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< 






THE MARKS OF 
THE BEAR CLAWS 


BY 

HENRY S. SPALDING, S.J. 

AUTHOR OF “ THE RACE FOR COPPER ISLAND,” ETC. 


WITH FRONTISPIECE 


New York, Cincinnati, Chicago 

BENZIGER BROTHERS 

PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE 

1908 



LIBRAftY of OONGi^ESS, 
I wo Copiss KecoiveU 

MAY 21 1908 

0«ttyriic/H tniry 

2Z ^ I 9* d 

CLASS A KAc. Nu. 
COPY 6. 




BY THE SAME AUTHOR : 


THE CAVE BY THE BEECH FORK. ’ i2mo, 

cloth, with Frontispiece $0.85 

THE SHERIFF OF THE BEECH FORK. i2mo, 

cloth, with Frontispiece $0.85 

THE RACE FOR COPPER ISLAND. i2mo, 
cloth, with Frontispiece $0.85 


For sale by all Catholic Booksellers, or mailed on receipt 
of price by the publishers. 

BENZIGER BROTHERS, 

New York Cincinnati Chicago 

36-38 Barclay St. 343 Main St. 211-213 Madison St. 



\ 


Copyright, 1908, by Benziger Brothers. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. PAGE 

Red Bear is Obstinate 7 

CHAPTER II. 

Farewell to the Bear 17 

CHAPTER HI. 

Stephen Dorval 27 

CHAPTER IV. 

Pierre and Frangois 37 

CHAPTER V. 

The Dance of the Great Bear 44 

CHAPTER VI. 

How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 52 

CHAPTER VH. 

Farewell 59 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Two Causes of Complaint 70 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Leader and the Outlaw 76 

CHAPTER X. 

The Second Camp-Fire 84 

3 


4 


Contents 


CHAPTER XI. PAGE 

A Clue at Last 91 

CHAPTER XII. 

Another Mystery 96 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Rice Indians 102 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The Fire Nation and Beyond 113 

CHAPTER XV. 

Wonderful Story Number Two 119 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The Island Bivouac 126 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 135 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

A Bear Without Its Skin 142 

CHAPTER XIX. 

The Vision of the Bear 148 

CHAPTER XX. 

On the Wide Tide 157 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Friends and Enemies 170 

CHAPTER XXII. 

How the Council Ended 177 


Contents 


5 


CHAPTER XXIIL page 

The Pipe of Peace 185 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

The Fight in the Willows 198 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Paul Practises Indian Incantations 203 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

A Message From Red Bear 212 

CHAPTER ’XXVH. 

The Grave of Marquette 219 


The Marks of the Bear Claws 


CHAPTER I. 

RED BEAR IS OBSTINATE. 

won’t come. Monsieur, he won’t come.” 

* • “I am glad to hear it, boy.” 

‘‘ But, Monsieur, you don’t know him. 
He’d protect us during the whole voyage; he 
never sleeps; he’s always on the watch.” 

I see, you want him for a watch-dog. I’d 
rather call him a snake, for he’s always hiding 
around the village. He has a guilty look, that 
Indian, and I don’t trust him, and am glad that 
he’s not coming.” 

‘‘ I’ve explained the reason of his action, mon- 
sieur; he is afraid of Father Marquette. His 
father made him promise when a boy not to be- 


8 


Red Bear Is Obstinate 


come a Christian and told him not to go to the 
Black-robe’s house. He is superstitious, there is 
no doubt about that. But can you blame him? 
Are not half of his people that way? I heard 
Father Marquette say the other day that it took 
centuries to convert the French. Give the poor 
Indians a chance; give Red Bear a chance. In 
fact I’d hoped that the voyage would bring him 
closer to the priest and be the means of convert- 
ing him.” 

‘‘Well, Paul; he is your friend and I admire 
you for defending him, but I say again, that I’m 
glad Red Bear is not coming.” 

“ You may be sorry before the voyage is 
over.” 

“ Yes, I may, but just jump out of my way, 
young fellow. I must have this canoe ready be- 
fore night and give it a trial.” 

“ Can I help you ? ” 

“ Yes, you can help me. The Ottawa flotilla 
is to start for Quebec this morning, and you can 


Red Bear Is Obstinate 


9 

help me by helping the Bear into one of the 
canoes with instructions to stay in Quebec.” 

He doesn’t need any help. I’ve been talking 
with him for an hour. He has made up his mind 
to go, and nothing can move him.” 

“ Then I have one thing to say ; don’t stop the 
Bear. Let him go to Quebec, and to-morrow I 
hope we’ll be able to start in the opposite direc- 
tion.” 

The boy said nothing, but stood watching his 
companion, who with thread, made of the bark 
of leatherwood, was stitching the side of a birch 
canoe. But the lad’s thoughts were about the 
Indian friend who was so soon to leave him. 
The flotilla of thirty canoes was to start for Que- 
bec that morning. Would it not be possible to 
detain the Indian until the convoy of canoes had 
departed? His face suddenly brightened. With 
a pleasant ‘‘ good morning ” and a graceful bow 
he left the lake shore. 

The Frenchman who was working on the canoe 


10 Red Bear Is Obstinate 

was named Felix Lataupine — one of a party of 
six preparing to start on a voyage of discovery 
the following morning. He was of medium size, 
with a full round face, dark eyes, and coarse black 
hair. For years a soldier oh the upper Saint 
Lawrence and afterward a hunter on the plains 
of Illinois, Lataupine had escaped the contami- 
nating influence of the camp, and in the midst of 
corrupt companions had led a truly Christian life. 
Inured to hardships, acquainted with the water- 
ways of the country, deeply interested in any 
undertaking for the public good — bold, faithful, 
and jovial, — he was both a useful and a pleasant 
associate. 

His aversion for the Indian boy, called Red 
Bear, was not without reason. The latter was 
an unconverted Huron over whom the mission- 
aries had absolutely no influence. When a child, 
his father, a superstitious chief, had made him 
fast for several days and nights, and at the end 
of each night had asked the boy whether he had 


Red Bear Is Obstinate 


II 


dreamed of any animal. On his replying that he 
had not, the fast was continued until the mother, 
seeing the boy was wasting away, told him to say 
that he had seen a bear in his dream. The de- 
lighted father took from his neck a string of bear 
claws, and placing them on the head of his son 
consecrated him to the Great Bear, which from 
that time was to be his protector. He was told 
that the one condition of his protection was that 
he should not become a ChrivStian. The cere- 
mony had made such an impression on the boy 
that he was afraid to approach the missionaries, 
who were regarded as the enemies of the spirit 
who was to protect him. The Indian was known, 
too, to be treacherous and unfaithful. There 
was but one person in all Canada who trusted 
him, a lad by the name of Paul Guibeau, — the 
very one who had just pleaded for the Indian 
with Lataupine. 

Remember, that he is to leave with that flo- 
tilla this morning,’’ cried Lataupine to Paul, for 


12 


Red Bear Is Obstinate 


the boy seemed to be meditating some scheme, 
and his companion rightly interpreted his action 
as planning to retain his Indian friend. “ If you 
don’t see that he starts, I’ll bind him hands and 
feet and give him to one of the Christian Otta- 
was to take to Quebec as a prisoner.” 

Paul turned and could see the smile on Latau- 
pine’s face as he delivered himself of this threat ; 
for the big-hearted Frenchman, while he despised 
and distrusted the Huron, was a warm friend of 
Paul. The latter understood the nature of the 
threat and responded in the same bantering, jok- 
ing way : ‘‘ The Bear is going with us — 

and I predict that he will save your life and 
mine.” 

“ I’d drown him the first day,” replied Felix 
Lataupine in a loud voice, as he smeared one of 
the seams of the canoe with tar. 

“ Father Marquette wants him with us,” said 
Paul turning and unconsciously retracing his 
steps slowly. 


Red Bear Is Obstinate 15 

who had asked him to secure some flowers for the 
mission chapel. 

I do believe that Paul has been influenced by 
the tricks and incantations of that devil of a 
Huron,” muttered Lataupine as he stirred the 
tar. “ The Indian cannot come ! He must not 
come ! He’ll make a pagan of Paul and bring a 
curse on the expedition.” The Frenchman 
looked up from his work and watched the boy, 
who was walking briskly toward the mission- 
ary’s cabin, holding his beaver-skin cap in his 
right hand and letting the warm May breeze play 
through his long black hair. He was low of 
stature, with broad shoulders, and a large round 
head. His short jacket and trousers of bluish- 
gray cloth were worn and faded; but around his 
waist, and tied with a double knot, was a new, 
yellow sash. His French boots, which reached 
to his knees, were torn and patched. Still there 
was nothing slovenly in the boy’s appearance ; his 
long residence at a frontier post had made it im- 


1 6 Red Bear Is Obstinate 

possible for him to discard his old clothes for 
others which were newer and better. As fine a 
lad as I ever saw/' continued Lataupine, talking 
to himself as he stood erect and admired the 
physique of his sturdy friend. '' He is strong 
and active, too, and a good oarsman — rather 
young for the work, but I-'m sure he can stand 
the voyage. Pierre says he is but sixteen, but 
he looks seventeen or more. That sash will lose 
its yellow before he gets back from the voyage. 
I wonder whether he knows the difficulties before 
him.” 

Thus mused Lataupine to himself, while again 
and again he resolved to prevent the Bear from 
joining the expedition. Paul at the same time 
was maturing his plans to have the Huron ac- 
company them. 


CHAPTER 11. 


FAREWELL TO THE BEAR. 

morning, Father, I have come to get 
^ the lilacs for you.” 

“ Will you be able to find them ? ” re- 
plied Father Marquette, who walked out from 
his little mission cabin, and placed his right hand 
upon the shoulder of the boy. 

The island is not large, and I do not see how 
I can miss the flowers, if the bush is as high as 
you say it is.” 

“ I have not seen the shrub for a year, but it 
was then fully ten feet tall — taller in fact than 
any I have seen in Europe.” 

Was it in bloom. Father? ” 

No, it was too early in the spring, but I re- 
member that the buds were beginning to swell 
and to promise a bountiful supply of blossoms. 

17 


1 8 Farewell to the Bear 

The bush is about twenty feet from the shore, and 
a little west of Eagle Bluff.’’ 

Then I’ll have no difficulty in finding it.” 

‘‘ The lilac is dear to me on account of its asso- 
ciations,” said the priest. When I was a stu- 
dent at the Jesuit college in Rheims, a missionary 
returned from the far east and brought with him, 
among other new plants, one that was called the 
sacred flower of the gods of Persia. Years after, 
when I return: to teach in the same college, the 
walks were lined with these beautiful lilacs and 
the odor from them pervaded the garden. I re- 
member how we decorated the altar of the Blessed 
Virgin with these choice flowers, and the per- 
fume filled the chapel. That year Father Mer- 
cier, now in Quebec, left the college for the mis- 
sions of Canada. I gave him a small root and 
asked him to plant it in New France, and added 
that, when it was time for it to bloom, I should 
join him in the New World. When he arrived 
in Quebec, Father Dablon was starting for the 


Farewell to the Bear 


19 

lakes, and at his request carried this shoot with 
him. Stopping at the island on his way to this 
mission, he planted the root. Last year he vis- 
ited me at the mission and told me where I could 
find the shrub. I did find it, but, as I said, it was 
too early in the spring for it to bloom. I am 
quite sure that it is blooming now, and with its 
flowers we must decorate the altar of the Blessed 
Virgin.’^ 

I’ll do my best to get them. Father.” 

“ And when you have cut them, place them 
in the canoe carefully, so as not to break the 
stems.” 

‘‘ Certainly, Father; and now I must be off, for 
I want to take Red Bear with me so as to return 
before the Ottawa flotilla starts for Quebec.” 
Paul hung his head as he made this last state- 
ment, for he had resolved to detain the Bear un- 
til the Indian convoy had sailed. “ You know. 
Father, that Red Bear is going back to Quebec.” 

‘‘ It is just as well; even when I gave you per- 


20 


Farewell to the Bear 


mission to bring him I doubted about the wisdom 
of the plan/^ 

“ I know the men are opposed to his going, but 
I think they’re making a mistake.” And the boy 
remained unshaken in his resolution to make this 
last effort to retain the Huron. The lad felt that 
he was to undertake a perilous expedition, and in 
this he shared the convictions of his older asso- 
ciates. But the others, so thought Paul, did not 
know the value of the Bear as a protection against 
all dangers and surprises. Paul was not an ob- 
stinate or self-willed boy; in this instance he was 
of the opinion that he was the best judge of the 
Huron’s worth. Father Marquette had given 
his consent to bring the Indian, and Paul in- 
tended, if it lay in his power, to bring him. 

If you are to return before noon you must 
start at once,” were the warning words of the 
priest. 

Before ten minutes had passed a light canoe 
pushed off from the northern shore of the Straits 


Farewell to the Bear 


21 


of Mackinac, with its prow turned toward an 
island. In the canoe were Paul Guibeau and his 
Indian friend. 

“ Red Bear,'' began the French lad, when the 
canoe was some distance from the shore, ‘‘ to- 
morrow Sieur Joliet and Father Marquette start 
on the voyage to find the great river called Mit- 
chi-sipi. I am going with them. The Huron 
and Ottawa Indians think that we'll never re- 
turn. They say that the river is inhabited by a 
demon who devours all who enter it. His voice 
is so loud that it sounds like thunder, and his 
teeth are sharper than those of the black bear. 
Whenever you are with me, I am safe. You pro- 
tect me as the bird protects its young; you are 
like the young tree in the woods which shelters 
the flowers beneath it and protects them from 
frost; you can hide me away like the minnow 
deep in the water; with you I can escape from 
danger as quickly as the gull from the musket of 
the pale-face." Thus in figurative language. 


22 


Farewell to the Bear 


which he knew would flatter and please, did Paul 
seek to win over his Indian friend. 

The Huron understood French, but he was 
afflicted with a partial dumbness and conversed 
in monosyllabic, guttural sounds which few could 
understand. But aided by the vivid gesticulation 
of his friend, and from long association, Paul 
could follow his speech with but little difficulty. 
As the two conversed, the canoe danced over the 
choppy waves, and, driven by a slight wind from 
the north, drifted toward the mainland south of 
the strait. Paul, too, by a twist of the oar, 
turned the canoe from the island. Thus the light 
craft, zigzagging from side to side, covered al- 
most twice the distance it would have taken had 
it gone in a direct line. 

On reaching the island, it was necessary to go 
far beyond Eagle Bluff, for the shore here was 
wild and rugged, and the storm-beaten precipice 
was a perpendicular wall from twenty to thirty 
feet high. Extending from this shore of solid 


Farewell to the Bear 


23 

rock can be seen to-day a ledge reaching out over 
the water which is so deep that the largest lake 
vessels approach within a few feet of the land. 
The ledge is now called Lover’s Leap; but was 
then known as Eagle Bluff, for an eagle which 
had its nest near by was often seen to perch upon 
the rocky precipice. 

“ What a sweet smell,” said Paul aloud, just as 
the canoe was gliding beneath the bluff. The 
water here, being sheltered by the island from 
the northern wind, was so smooth that the rowing 
was an easy task. Up to this point, the odor of 
the pine pervaded the air, but now it was no 
longer perceived, and the air was filled with the 
fragrance of some unknown flower. Can that 
be the lilac ? ” continued the boy, looking along 
the precipice. Not a flower could be seen in the 
bare crevices of the rocks. 

The two canoemen finally landed at a place 
where they could climb the shore. Working 
their way through the dense pines, they reached 


24 


Farewell to the Bear 


Eagle Bluff, from which as a guiding point they 
sought the place where the lilac grew. Brush- 
ing aside the pines they suddenly came upon the 
coveted shrub ; and not one, but a patch of them, 
covered with blooms from the lowest twig to the 
topmost leaf. Here were flowers sufficient to 
beautify not only the little altar but the entire 
mission chapel. The slender sprout from the col- 
lege in Europe had grown and ramified until here 
in the midst of the pines it claimed a little world 
of its own. Nor has it ceased to grow, for in the 
course of two centuries it has covered not only 
the island but the entire northern peninsula. 

Paul was purposely slow in cutting the flowers 
and carrying them to the canoe, where each bunch 
was carefully deposited. It was noon before a 
sufficiently large quantity had been collected. 
When the boys returned for the last load, their 
attention was attracted by something on the lake 
just visible through the thick undergrowth. 
Running to the edge of the precipice to get a bet- 


Farewell to the Bear 


25 


ter view of the object, they saw at a glance that 
it was the flotilla of canoes on its way to Quebec. 

With all his natural shrewdness, the Bear did 
not suspect his friend of treason. With his hand 
shading his face from the morning sun, he 
glanced now at the canoes, now at the clear deep 
water beneath him. Running back to the cluster 
of flowers, and placing a string of bear claws in 
a bunch of lilacs which Paul had cut, he as quickly 
returned to the edge of the precipice. Suddenly, 
with the quick, graceful movement of a gull, he 
dived into the lake. He soon arose to the sur- 
face and with rapid strokes swam toward the con- 
voy of boats fully half a mile away. Perceiv- 
ing him, the Indians in one of the canoes came to 
his rescue. 

Paul saw him taken into the canoe, stripped of 
his wet clothes and dressed in furs, a large quan- 
tity of which the Ottawas were carrying as mer- 
chandise to Quebec. He stood watching the flo- 
tilla until it vanished, and then with a heavy heart 


26 


Farewell to the Bear 


gathered up his flowers. As he did so, 
the string of bear claws fell from the bunch of 
lilacs. Thinking that Red Bear had left them 
by mistake, he put them into his pocket to keep in 
remembrance of his friend. 


CHAPTER III. 


STEPHEN DORVAL. 

O N the northern shore of the Strait of 
Mackinac stood the mission of Saint Ig- 
nace. Within the rectangular palisade of 
pine trees were grouped the rude cabins of the 
Huron and Ottawa Indians. Christians though 
they were, they did not always manifest that 
brotherly love and harmony which the priests 
taught them should be among the first fruits of 
their conversion; and for the sake of peace a 
second palisade, smaller than that which pro- 
tected the mission, separated the two tribes. 

To the south of the village, and within the 
enclosure, were the chapel, the missionary’s cabin, 
and accommodations for the hunters and traders 
who came to spend the winter at the straits. 
Farther up the beach were the wigwams of some 
27 


28 Stephen Dorval 

fifty pagan Indians who refused all communica- 
tion with their converted tribesmen, and pre- 
ferred to starve and freeze rather than enjoy the 
warmth and comfort of the mission. With them 
lived a trapper by the name of Stephen Dorval. 
He belonged to that wild class of coureurs-de- 
bois or bushrangers, who knew no law, and were 
at times wilder and more savage than the savages 
* themselves. 

Among those who had spent the winter at the 
mission was Louis Joliet, who had been sent by 
the Governor of Canada, Frontenac, to undertake 
the discovery of the great river, called Mit-chi- 
sipi, of which so many strange reports had 
reached Quebec. As representing in person the 
highest official in New France, Joliet had been 
given a cabin next to that of the missionary. 
Father Marquette. Here, after the evening 
May-services, previous to the departure of the 
expedition, Joliet was making his final prepara- 
tions. He was just folding away some birch- 


Stephen Dorval 


29 

bark to be used as writing material, when there 
was a knock at the door and in walked Stephen 
Dorval. 

‘‘ Monsieur, may I speak with you for a mo- 
ment ? ” asked he. 

“ And may I ask who you are ? ’’ was the re- 
ply as Joliet folded his birch-bark and placed it 
on the rustic table by his side. 

‘‘You ask who I am, monsieur! We have 
spent the winter here at the mission and you do 
not know me ? ” 

“ We have never met before.’’ 

“ No, we have never met. I am not good 
enough for you and for your company. Still 
I was born and educated in France, and came of 
a family of greater distinction than that of Sieur 
Joliet. I am Stephen Dorval.” There was 
something of refinement in the tall, gaunt figure 
which indicated that the trapper had once en- 
joyed the advantages which he claimed. 

“ Stephen Dorval,” repeated Joliet. “ I 


30 Stephen Dorval 

should have known you, monsieur, from all that 
I have heard of you.” 

You have heard nothing that was good. I 
venture to say that I have not a friend in 
Canada.” 

You have certainly deserved punishment at 
the hands of the government, if all is true that 
people say about you.” 

I do not know what is said about me, and I 
care less ! ” There was a tone of contempt in the 
speaker’s voice. 

And are you not afraid of being arrested and 
carried to Quebec ? ” 

Dorval drew himself up to his full height and 
deliberately folded his arms. “ Monsieur Joliet,” 
said he, “ I do not believe that twenty men could 
take me to Quebec ; I do not know how I’d escape, 
but I’d do it. I am not a man to boast. I have 
more than the cunning of the savage. If nature 
has made me an outlaw, she has given me won- 
derful instincts of self-preservation. I repeat it. 


Stephen Dorval 


31 

I will never be taken to Quebec a prisoner; al- 
though God knows I have often deserved it. I 
have broken every law made by the Governor. 
I have sold whiskey from Quebec to Lake Tracy. 
I have traded illegally, I have robbed trading 
posts, I have done all kinds of evil. I am not 
saying this to boast of it. I know it is wrong. 
I am ashamed of it. I got started in the wrong 
way, and I continued in the wrong way. But 
there is one thing I have not done; I have not 
stained my hands in human blood, not even In- 
dian blood. I have never killed a human being.” 

For some time there was a silence. Joliet won- 
dered what had brought the man to his cabin, 
and what had forced this confession. The vis- 
itor did not know how to begin to announce the 
object of his coming, or rather he felt that he 
had begun in the wrong way. 

'' The Indian boy. Red Bear, is not going on 
the expedition,” resumed Dorval in a modified 
tone. 


32 


Stephen Dorval 


No.’’ 

Has he already started for Quebec ? ” 

So I am told,” and Joliet wondered of what 
interest this could be to the visitor. 

Was not one of the two canoes made to ac- 
commodate four persons ? ” 

Three the size of Lataupine would fill it.” 
Monsieur,” said Dorval. I have come to 
ask a favor.” 

And what is that favor ? ” 

I want to accompany you on your voyage of 
discovery.” 

Joliet stepped toward the fire place in which a 
blaze was lighting up the cabin and dispelling the 
chill of the evening, then turned and faced the 
visitor. Monsieur Dorval,” he began, as he 
glanced at the wild costume of the visitor who 
was dressed like the Indians with whom he asso- 
ciated, “ I am a representative of the govern- 
ment of New France, and you are an outlaw in 
the eyes of this same government. To permit 


Stephen Dorval 33 

you to accompany the expedition would be to re- 
ceive you in the service of the government. Do 
you not see that your request is impossible?” 

It does look that way,” and Dorval stood for 
some minutes in silence. “ Listen to me, for a 
moment,” he began again. ‘‘ Is there no hope 
for one who has done wrong? Must he always 
remain an outlaw, a convict ? Is there no chance 
for him to reform? Is prison or death the only 
alternative? You have just finished the services 
in the chapel — ” 

Yes, and they were very impressive,” inter- 
rupted Joliet. ‘‘ Never before did I hear Father 
Marquette speak with so much feeling.” 

‘‘ I was in the chapel. I do not know why I 
went, but I was there, and while I was there I 
resolved to be a better man. I want to give up 
this savage life and return to civilization. I want 
to begin the practice of my duties as a Christian. 
Am I first to serve in a French prison? Is there 
not some other way of beginning a better life? 


34 Stephen Dorval 

Can I not work in the service of France, and 
when I have proved that I am no longer an out- 
law, will you not ask pardon of Frontenac for 
me ? If you refuse me this help, how am I to be- 
gin to reform? Monsieur, here is the solemn 
promise that Stephen Dorval is a changed man 
from this minute if only he gets this chance to 
reform.” Again Dorval folded his arms and 
stood in respectful silence. 

Joliet, too, was silent. 

I repeat it, monsieur, I repeat that I can be 
of service to the gov^ernment,” again began the 
pleader, profiting by the silence of the leader. 
‘‘ And I can do the government great harm. As 
I said before I will not go to prison — no one can 
put me there. If I am pardoned, I have no 
friends to help me to make a living, and will be 
forced to go back to my savage life. If I am not 
pardoned, I must continue in my savage life and 
remain an enemy of the government. If I am 
permitted to work for the government and prove 


Stephen Dorval 35 

that I deserve pardon, I can continue in this serv- 
ice. DorvaFs rifle will be a protection to you, his 
knowledge of the savages and their ways will be 
a guard to you, and lastly his fidelity in the serv- 
ice of New France will prove that Stephen Dor- 
val has made no idle boast.” 

“ I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of 
your promise,” replied Joliet; “but your propo- 
sition is a rather strange one, and I must have 
time to consider it.” 

“ Then I shall await your answer until to-mor- 
row morning,” and Dorval turned to leave the 
cabin. 

“ Wait,” said Joliet, as the stranger opened 
the door. “ I had thought of talking the mat- 
ter over with Father Marquette before giving you 
my answer, but I know he will leave the decision 
with me. It is late now, and to-morrow morn- 
ing we shall not have time to discuss the question. 
Monsieur Dorval, I take you at your word. You 
may come with us to share the glories and the 


36 Stephen Dorval 

hardships of the voyage. But it will not do to 
join the expedition here at the mission, for neither 
the French nor the savages would understand 
why you had been admitted as one of the party. 
You know where Gull Point is?” 

I do.” 

Then wait for us there to-morrow.” 

“ Thanks,” said he, as he grasped the hand of 
Joliet. “ To-night you have made a man of 
Stephen Dorval, and I promise you that you will 
never regret what you have done for him.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


PIERRE AND FRANCOIS. 

lyiERRE was watching Franqois and Fran- 
* gois was watching Pierre. It was only 
about a trifle, but each was determined to 
have his way. 

Pierre was a cripple. His left shoulder 
drooped, his limbs were shrunken and stiffened 
by rheumatism, his face bore evident marks of 
suffering and exposure. He wore a short, 
shaggy beard which he trimmed with his hunt- 
ing knife. Frangois was tall and erect, and as 
nimble as a squirrel. He could handle a rifle or 
an axe with equal skill ; the wild life of the woods 
did not rob him of his strength, but seemed only 
to harden his muscles and bronze his features. 
They were noted coureurs-de-bois or bushrang- 
ers, and had been chosen as members of the party 
37 


38 Pierre and Frangois 

which was to undertake the discovery of the Mit- 
chi-sipi. 

Pierre was famous as a story-teller; Frangois 
renowed as a musician. Many a time around 
the camp-fires did Pierre amuse his companions 
by rehearsing anecdotes and wonderful Indian 
legends. Many a time, in some distant hunter's 
lodge, did Frangois with his fiddle stir the hearts 
of his companions, until these jumped to their feet 
and danced despite fatigue, or, when listening to 
some plaintive note, strove in vain to check the 
tears that flowed as they thought of absent loved 
ones. 

Pierre had but one name; just Pierre and noth- 
ing more. He had run away from an orphanage 
in France, and had succeeded in boarding a ves- 
sel bound for New France. He had been called 
Pierre, he gave his name as Pierre, and that was 
his whole history. But Frangois could boast of 
titles worthy of a nobleman, for his full name 
was Frangois Dongan Vielle du Moussart. His 


Pierre and Frangois 


39 

mother's name was Dongan, and he was called 
Vielle by his fellow coureur-de-bois, , because he 
was the only one of the many bushrangers who 
carried a musical instrument on his hunting ex- 
pedition. His vielle, or hurdy-gurdy, was a 
clumsy instrument, and was later replaced by a 
fiddle ; but the name of Vielle still stuck to Fran- 
cois. 

The old vielle came near costing the life of 
Pierre and Frangois and the rest of a hunting 
party on one occasion; for it attracted the atten- 
tion of a straggling band of Indians, who took 
the hunters prisoners, and released them only 
after a liberal supply of tobacco had been dealt 
out. There were the same objections to the fiddle 
as there had been to the vielle ; in fact there were 
stronger objections, for the sound carried farther, 
and the wild unexplored country into which they 
were to enter demanded more precautions. 

Still Frangois was determined to take his 
fiddle on the expedition ; Pierre was equally 


40 Pierre and Frangois 

determined to have the fiddle remain behind. 

‘‘ We are all ready,” remarked Frangois, as the 
two sat in the little cabin that same night before 
the departure of the expedition. 

‘‘ Why, we have been ready for the past two 
weeks,” replied Pierre, ‘‘ and have been waiting 
for the weather.” 

“ No, no; you are mistaken; only this minute 
were the preparations completed,” affirmed Fran- 
gois, as he balanced a box in his hands. 

“ What preparations? ” 

‘‘ The most important of them all.” 

“ I don’t understand,” grunted the cripple. 

‘‘ I have just finished this box; and it contains 
something which is necessary to make the venture 
a success.” 

‘‘ The maps of Sieur Joliet? ” asked Pierre. 

‘‘ No.” 

“ Trinkets for trading with the Indians? ” 

“A poor guess.” 


‘‘Seal grease for cooking?” 


Pierre arid Frangois 


41 


‘‘ No, nor 

“ And you say that it is necessary for the suc- 
cess of the venture ? ” 

‘‘ Absolutely necessary/’ 

Pierre thought for some time. ‘‘ Does it be- 
long to the priest ? ” he asked.. 

‘‘ No, monsieur, it belongs to Francis Dongan 
Vielle du Moussart.” 

‘‘ Then it isn’t necessary for the success of the 
expedition.” 

‘‘ It is necessary. I repeat it, it is necessary. 

“ Not even Moussart is necessary. Only one 
man is absolutely necessary for this expedition, 
and it isn’t Moussart. It is Pierre. He knows 
more of Indians and life in New France than 
any other Frenchman. Parbleu! Moussart 
would not be missed, and as for his old box, no 
one cares; it will only be a useless load in the 
canoes.” 

‘‘Useless or not, the box is coming; and it 


holds my fiddle.” 


42 


Pierre and Frangois 


'' Then it will not come/^ 

I say it will.’’ 

‘‘Never! parbleu, never!” repeated the crip- 
ple, as he rose from his bench and hobbled across 
the cabin floor. “ Why man, you came near be- 
ing the death of me once when you brought the 
Iroquois upon us. How can we conceal the camp 
with a man playing a devil fiddle ? If that fiddle 
goes, Pierre stays at the mission; and the others 
can’t go without me.” 

“ Don’t get excited about a little music. I’ll 
not play when there is danger of drawing the 
enemy upon us.” 

“ Did you not draw the Iroquois upon us ? ” 

“Yes, but no one knew they were near the' 
camp.” 

“ And may not the same happen again ? ” ar- 
gued Pierre. 

“You are not the leader of this expedition,” 
claimed Moussart. “ Sieur Joliet has given his 
permission, and I intend to bring the fiddle.” 


Pierre and Frangois 


43 


Then — then — ” Pierre muttered some- 
thing about fiddles and Indians, as he crept to his 
hard couch. In a few minutes Frangois had lain 
down and all was quiet within the little cabin. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE DANCE OF THE GREAT BEAR. 

F rom his little cabin that night, carrying 
his fiddle in a birch box, Frangois crept 
cautiously, so cautiously and quietly that 
he did not think that Pierre knew of his departure. 
But Pierre was watching Frangois; he saw him 
turn toward the lake shore where the two canoes 
for the expedition were drawn up on the sand. 

Frangois did not, however, go to the canoes, but 
followed the narrow path which led to the camp 
of the pagan Hurons, and aroused Stephen Dor- 
val. 

‘‘ Who comes there ? ” were the challenging 
words of Dorval, as the intruder drew near the 
wigwam of the trapper. 


“ Moussart.” 


44 


The Dance of the Great Bear 45 

‘‘ Come on ; I am the only one in the camp to- 
night/' 

And where are the Hurons ? " 

‘‘ Old Poison Arrow has smeared himself with 
paint and led his braves into the forest." 

'' Is there any danger of his attacking the vil- 
lage?" 

“ No ! His warriors are too few; but if he had 
a hundred braves with him the mission would be 
in danger." 

“ They are not far away," replied Moussart, 
who just then caught the wild cries of the excited 
Indians. 

No, they have gone to the sacred mound of 
the Great Bear; they often hold their dances and 
incantations there ; but I never before knew them 
to be so noisy as they are to-night. In fact, I 
was just thinking of sending word to the fort to 
warn the men to be on their guard." 

‘‘ I can bring them the news," interposed the 
visitor. ‘‘ But first let me tell you the cause of 


46 The Dance of the Great Bear 

my coming here to-night. Sieur Joliet has in- 
formed me that you are to meet us at Gull Point 
to-morrow and join the expedition.” 

I have the honor of being one of the party,” 
acknowledged Dorval. 

“ Then may I ask a favor? ” 

“ Certainly.” 

Here is a birch box with my fiddle. Pierre 
objects to my taking it. I can’t reason with the 
old fool. I am afraid that Joliet will agree with 
him and order me to leave the fiddle behind at 
the mission. To avoid all trouble, I want you to 
keep the box in your possession until we are some 
days on the voyage.” 

I remember one night when you played for 
us in a camp on the Ottawa river,” replied Dor- 
val taking the box. “We may need the music 
to cheer us before we return.” 

“ Thanks ! And now suppose we visit the 
Hurons and find out the cause of all this noise.” 


The Dance of the Great Bear 47 

“ You have trapped and hunted for ten years 
in New France and know so little of the pagan 
Huron ! ” remonstrated Dorval. “ Perhaps my 
life would be safe in their midst to-night, for 
they consider me one of their tribe, and in fact 
I have been as savage as the worst of them. Per- 
haps Father Marquette could venture among 
them, but you or any other Frenchman would be 
shot with arrows and burned at the stake.” 

If they were Iroquois I could understand.” 

The unconverted Huron is as cruel as the 
Iroquois and as treacherous.” Here the yells 
and cries of the Indians grew louder. “ Lis- 
ten ! ” continued Dorval after a short pause. 
‘‘ They are possessed by demons to-night ; and 
yet I do not understand the cause. It may be 
connected with the expedition of to-morrow. 
Old Poison Arrow has been moody and silent of 
late.” 

“ Perhaps they witnessed the services in the 


48 The Dance of the Great Bear 

chapel to-night; this may have aroused them to 
practise their devil-worship/’ suggested Mous- 
sart. 

“ Possibly ; yet such an explanation did not oc- 
cur to me, for not a pagan was present in the 
chapel.” 

‘‘ But they knew of the services.” 

“ Certainly.” 

“ And may have to meet for their own diaboli- 
cal rites.” 

The low beat of a war drum was heard; a 
fire blazed in the woods. This means an at- 
tack upon the village,” whispered Dorval. 

“Shall we give the alarm?” asked Moussart. 

“ Wait for a few moments ; I cannot believe 
that Poison Arrow would attempt so foolhardy 
a thing.” 

9 

“ He may think that, owing to the services 
and the preparation for the voyage, the Chris- 
tian Indians are wholly unprepared.” 

“ But he must see the madness of an attack 


The Dance of the Great Bear 49 

with so few.” There was a pause broken at in- 
tervals by the sound of the war drum. Come ! 
come on ! ” were the orders of Dorval. ‘‘ It is 
dangerous; but we must go and find out what 
these wild devils are doing.” 

Poison Arrow was the most treacherous of 
Indians. Pretending to befriend the Frenchmen 
and converted Hurons, he was secretly plotting 
their destruction. He saw the entire Huron na- 
tion converted to Christianity, and at the same 
time he saw that the land was being occupied 
by the French. To his mind the two facts were 
inseparably connected; the conversion of the pa- 
gan savages meant the loss of the country. How 
could he avert so great an evil? He could hope 
for nothing from his own people as they were 
mostly Christians. But far in the west, and 
along the banks o'f the great river, dwelt numer- 
ous tribes unknown to the French. Could they 
not be made to see their danger? Would they 
not follow him against the intruders? 


50 The Dance of the Great Bear 

But now the Frenchmen were starting for the 
country of these unconverted tribes. In a few 
years they, too, would be Christians. Poison 
Arrow felt that his last chance of saving his peo- 
ple was about to be lost. 

The night before the departure of the voy- 
agers the Indian chief sat in his wigwam 
wrapped in his robe of bear skins. Suddenly 
his resolution was taken. He besmeared himself 
with paint and sounded the war drum, and as- 
sembled around him his few faithful warriors. 
These he led to a mound sacred to the worship 
of the Great Bear. Like the Huron youth al- 
ready described, these pagan Indians worshipped 
the bear, and looked to it for protection. Each 
warrior wore a robe of bearskin and carried a 
knife of flint. 

The ceremony in honor of the Great Bear con- 
sisted of a dance around the mound, and then 
an attack upon the nearest trees which were sup- 
posed to represent enemies. Only one tree was 


The Dance of the Great Bear 51 

spared, and that had been previously marked 
with a circle drawn with bear claws. When the 
superstitious rites were ended, the chief called 
two of his bravest warriors, and appointed them 
to follow and scalp the Frenchmen. On their 
return, he himself intended to visit the tribes 
along the great river, and arouse them to a gen- 
eral insurrection. 


CHAPTER VI. 


HOW PIERRE DROWNED THE FIDDLE. 

n EANWHILE Pierre, tired of waiting for 
Moussart, left the cabin to look for the 
box and violin. Down to the water’s 
edge he went and fumbled among the articles 
which had been placed in the canoes. The pro- 
visions had not been brought out, but there 
were cooking utensils, and clothing, and fixtures 
for two tents. Then Pierre picked up a box. 
It felt a trifle heavy, but was just the size of the 
box in which Frangois carried his fiddle. To it 
Pierre attached a stone, and threw what he imag- 
ined was the hated fiddle out into the lake. 

‘‘ Parbleu ! Now play your fiddle 1 Now 
make a noise and bring a dozen Indians to take 
a fellow’s scalp! Pierre is a cripple, but not a 
fool! Only a fool would bring a fiddle along 
on such an expedition! Let him find his fiddle! 

52 


How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 53 

Let him cry for his fiddle! To-morrow Pierre 
will say that he knows nothing about the fiddle, 
and when we are a hundred miles from the mis- 
sion, ril tell Fran(;ois where he can find his fid- 
dle! You can’t fool Pierre! you can’t fool 
Pierre ! ” 

Pierre turned and limped away toward the 
cabin. Perhaps, he thought, he had been unwise 
in throwing the box into the lake ; he should have 
taken the fiddle out and replaced it by some ar- 
ticle of equal weight. Would not Frangois look 
for the box, and, finding his fiddle gone, secure 
another in its place ? Pausing and looking toward 
the water the cripple wished that he could re- 
store the box, but it was at the bottom of the lake 
and there was no getting it. Another box must 
be substituted in its place. Pierre made his way 
to the mission storeroom, and found a box about 
the size of the one which contained the fiddle. 
Filling it with bark and sand, he concealed it 
among the tenting materials in the canoe. Then 


54 How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 

he laughed and again limped off toward the cabin 
muttering to himself: ‘‘You can’t fool Pierre! 
you can’t fool Pierre I ” 

All was now quiet at the Mission of Saint Ig- 
nace. The war drum had ceased to beat ; Poison 
Arrow and his braves had returned to their wig- 
wams. Paul had fallen asleep with a heavy 
heart, because his friend, Red Bear, would not be 
with him on the voyage. Pierre and Moussart 
lay upon their hard couches in the same cabin, 
each thinking that he had outwitted the other. 

In the little chapel a solitary figure knelt before 
the altar, — Father Marquette. His was a fer- 
vent prayer wafted heavenward with the blended 
scent of the lilacs and incense. From his earliest 
childhood his had been a tender devotion to the 
Immaculate Mother of God; from his earliest 
childhood he had fasted in her honor on each 
Saturday of the year. He had placed his mis- 
sionary labors in the New World under her spe- 
cial protection; and when he heard of the great 


How Pierre Drowned the Piddle 55 

river of the west it was to her that he looked for 
guidance, that he might bring the knowledge of 
God to the tribes along its banks. His queen 
and mother had not forsaken him; and on the 
Feast of the Immaculate Conception had sent to 
him the one who was to be his companion in the 
work of discovery, for it was on the eighth of 
December that Joliet had arrived at the mission. 
In the few hours that glorious undertaking was 
to begin. Mary, the Great Mother of God, 
Mary, the Immaculate Virgin, was to be the 
chosen patroness of the expedition. His prayer, 
his tenderest love, his sweetest confidence were 
poured out to her that night before the small, 
dim altar : 

Hail, Daughter of God the Father ; hail, 
Mother of God the Son; hail. Spouse of God the 
Holy Ghost; hail. Temple of the Holy Trinity; 
— by thy Virginity and Immaculate Conception, 
O most pure Virgin, keep my soul free from 
every stain of sin. Throne of the King who 


56 How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 

sitteth above the Cherubim ; Heavenly Gate 
through which we hasten from earth to heaven; 
Bride of God, by whom we are reconciled; Ex- 
haustless Ocean of divine graces; Immaculate 
Vesture of Him who clothed Himself with light 
as with a garment; True Vine that bearest the 
Fruit of life; Saving Guide of wanderers; Rod 
of Aaron, that buds by the power of God; Can- 
delabrum of seven lights, whose splendor sur- 
passes the rays of the sun; Holy Mountain in 
which it hath pleased God to dwell ; — my Salva- 
tion, my Consolation, my Joy, my Strength, my 
Guardian, my Patroness, Immaculate Mother, 
given to me by God, guide, bless, protect us in 
this expedition.” 

Thus prayed Marquette. Only the ignorant 
would call him a dreamer. With all his fervor, 
with all his tender love, history will write him 
down, not as an idle visionary, but will place him 
among the most practical and clear-sighted of 
men of his age. He had all the fidelity and com- 


How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 57 

mon sense of Joliet and was skilled like him in 
forest lore and woodcraft, and those other traits 
which were inborn in the aboriginal inhabitants 
and were acquired by those who wished not only 
to win success but also to find means of subsist- 
ence amid the dangers and hardships of the early 
settlements of New France. Strange as it may 
seem, there was much that was common between 
the fiery Spaniard, who with his plumed compan- 
ions first beheld the Mississippi, and the simple 
religious who a century later launched his canoe 
upon its waters. Both DeSoto and Marquette 
were fired with a chivalrous heroism which bore 
up enthusiastically in the midst of disappoint- 
ments; both were born leaders of men, winning 
respect and confidence by making themselves one 
with those over whom they had authority. De 
Soto’s work had more of the romance and was 
more in accord with the daring period in which 
he lived; but Marquette had more of the practi- 
cal sense of later and more prudent times. 


58 How Pierre Drowned the Fiddle 

Marquette had all the bold resolve of La Salle 
without his fickleness and impractical schemes. 

Go up to heaven, O prayers, with the incense 
and the odor of flowers! Look down with thy 
all-powerful protection. Immaculate Mother, for 
many are the dangers, and many are the ene- 
mies ! Often must thou guide thy servant ; often 
must thou defend him. 


CHAPTER VII. 


FAREWELL. 

IVIORNING had not yet broken at the mis- 
* * sion of Saint Ignace, but the gulls were 

abroad clamoring for their early break- 
fast. There was a ceaseless cry and call as the 
birds darted into the water, or waded along the 
beach to catch the unlucky crawfish or minnow 
stranded in the furrows of sand and pebbles 
as the waves receded. They continued to come 
from every direction, not in flocks, as did 
the ducks, nor in solid phalanxes, as the wild 
geese traveled, but singly or in pairs. In size 
they were about equal, measuring a yard from 
tip to tip, awkward and ungainly in their walk, 
but graceful and noiseless as they soared aloft or 
poised above their prey. Some were of a dull 
leaden color, and others as white as foam. There 
59 


6o 


Farewell 


seemed to be but little harmony among them; 
many were pilferers ready to seize the prize of 
more fortunate companions. The crowd grew 
larger and the clamor louder as the eastern sky 
became brighter. The sun appeared over the 
pines south of the strait, and the mission bell 
rang, at which the birds scampered away to the 
deep water to rest upon the waves after their 
morning’s work. 

And now the beach was thronged with Indians 
on their way to the chapel to assist at the morn- 
ing Mass. After Mass the entire population as- 
sembled at the water’s edge to witness the de- 
parture of the exploring party. It required but 
a few minutes to bring the simple equipments for 
the voyage. Near the smaller of the canoes 
stood Paul and Pierre, while Lataupine and 
Moussart took their positions by the side of their 
canoe, capable of accommodating seven persons, 
and loaded with most of the provisions and camp 
furniture. To the left of the party the Chris- 


Farewell 


6i 


tain Hurons had assembled; to the right were 
the Christian Ottawas, and between them a group 
of pagan Indians, in front of whom and close to 
the water’s edge were some twenty Frenchmen 
who had spent the winter at the mission. 

To the shore came Father Marquette, clad in 
his priestly gown, which was worn by the mis- 
sionaries even in their travels, and which caused 
the Indians to call the Jesuits, Black-robes.” 
To anyone seeing him about to embark the first 
thought would be: Why does one so delicate 
and frail undertake so perilous and difficult an 
expedition? He was a man of about thirty-five 
and seemed destined for the class-room or the 
pulpit rather than the drudgery and privations of 
the missions of New France. With his close- 
trimmed beard and neat though faded cassock, 
he stood in marked contrast with his dusky spec- 
tators. He was calm and dignified. In his face 
was a look of mingled love and simplicity, which 
won the hearts of the untamed savage and the 


62 


Farewell 


rugged hunter. He carried in his hand a cruci- 
fix — this was to be his banner, this his only- 
weapon of defence. 

The last to appear was Louis Joliet, the official 
representative of the Governor, Count Fronte- 
nac. Wishing to impress all with the solemnity 
of the occasion, he had dressed himself in rich 
attire purchased in Paris. He wore a coat of 
dark velvet embroidered with gold, and waist- 
coat of red satin brocade. The coat reached to 
his knees and almost covered his bas-de-bootes, 
or boot-hose, of brightest yellow. His boots had 
wide and ample legs, and were turned over just 
below the knee. A sword, which glittered in the 
rays of the morning sun, was supported by a 
wide and costly baldric. Although in strict ac- 
cord with the style of the day, his hat did not 
seem to match the rest of his attire, being of a 
conical shape, with a wide brim, and a large 
feather drooping from the right side. In his 
hand he held aloft the flag of France, and with 


Farewell 63 

the dignity and bearing of a soldier, he walked 
past the group of astonished savages to his canoe. 

Out from the crowd stepped Old Louis, the 
venerable chief of the Hurons. Pale-faces,” he 
began, I am old. I cannot count the times I 
have seen the full moon. Many times have I 
seen the ground covered with the green grass, 
and many times have I seen it covered with snow. 
Listen to an old man; listen to one who is the 
friend of the pale-face and the Black-robe. Are 
you looking for something to eat? Are you 
looking for something to wear? Are you look- 
ing for something to build a wigwam? Are 
you looking for bark to build your canoes ? Lis- 
ten to me. Listen to an old man. I have been 
far into the land of snow. I have been to the 
land where flowers always bloom. I have been 
to the great mountains where the sun rises. I 
have been where the sun goes down to sleep in 
the waters of the great sea. Listen to an old 
man ; listen to one who is the friend of the pale- 


64 Farewell 

faces and the Black-robe. In the waters before 
you there are more fish than in any other waters. 
In the woods around you last winter we killed 
as many bears as there are fingers and toes on 
five Hurons. Near you grow the best birch trees 
for making canoes. What can you find in other 
lands which we have not found here? Go not 
away, but stay with us here where the Great 
Spirit has given all things that are good.” 

The chief retired and took his place with his 
people. Then out stepped Running Deer, the 
chief of the Ottawas, and drawing around him 
his robe of moose skin, and folding his arms, 
harangued the voyagers : “ Many years ago. 

Black-robe, you came to the poor child of the 
forest. You came to teach us the way to the 
land of the Great Spirit. For years we would 
not listen to your teaching. Our hearts were 
like the ground in winter time; we would not 
bear fruit. But you were patient. Day after 


Farewell 65 

day you came to our wigwams, and when we 
would not listen you came the next day and the 
next. Then we listened to you, and by Baptism 
you made us the children of the Great Spirit. 
When our enemies drove us to the place where 
the sun sinks in the waves of the great water, 
you followed us; when we returned you again 
came with us. You built us a chapel where 
morning and night we prayed to the Great Spirit. 
And now you are going to leave us. What 
would the gulls do if the lakes were without 
water? What will the Ottawas do without the 
Black-robe? But since you must go, take this 
belt of wampum. For six moons did the squaws 
work at this belt. It is a belt of peace and not 
of war. Carry it with you, and may the Great 
Spirit protect you. And, pale-faces, may your 
canoes glide over the water like the gulls. May 
the water give you fish to eat and may the woods 
keep for you the fattest bears.” 


66 


Farewell 


Neither during the speech nor after it was 
there the slightest noise or commotion. All was 
serious, all was solemn. 

Lastly spoke Poison Arrow, pretending to be 
friendly even after he had plotted the death of 
the party. In his hand he held a bow eight feet 
in length, and his quiver, which hung from his 
left shoulder, was full of arrows, tipped with the 
sharpest flint, and ornamented with the richest 
feathers. With his bow he gesticulated wildly as 
he addressed the crowd and the members of the 
expedition. “ Believers in the Great Spirit of the 
pale-faces,’^ he cried, you have come from the 
land of the rising sun to get our furs and skins. 
You have come to tell us of the Great Spirit, and 
we would not listen to you, because our medicine- 
men had told us not to listen to you. But we have 
been your friends. When you were hungry we al- 
ways gave you what we had to eat. We have 
not taken your scalps and have not made you 
prisoners. Why do you leave us to find the great 


Farewell 67 

river, the Mit-chi-sipi ? It is the home of a 
great Demon. He will devour you ; he will swal- 
low your canoes. His voice is so loud that the 
hills shake when he speaks. His voice is like the 
mighty waters which fall from the lakes into 
the river. Upon the banks of this river you will 
find other red men, but they will not be friends. 
You cannot sleep in their wigwams. They have 
no furs for you. They have hammers of stone 
and knives of the sharpest flint,” and the chief 
pulled a dozen arrows from his belt. ‘‘ The fish 
is foolish that swims below the canoe where the 
spear is raised to strike it. The bear is foolish 
that eats the food in the trap. The duck is fool- 
ish that dives into the net. You are foolish if 
you go where the spirit of death waits for you. 
Pale-faces, farewell ! ” 

The solemnity of the occasion was somewhat 
disturbed by an accident at the close of Poison 
Arrow’s speech, for Frangois Moussart, who was 
leaning against the side of his canoe, slipped and 


68 


Farewell 


fell. On regaining his position, he grasped the 
box which Pierre had substituted for the one 
which he thought had contained the fiddle. The 
cripple moved in that direction, and immediately 
there was a commotion which might have resulted 
in a serious onset; for according to Indian eti- 
quette no one could stir on such occasions ex- 
cept the speaker. Understanding the gravity of 
the offence, Joliet waved Pierre back to his place, 
and began with a loud voice, adapting his lan- 
guage to the figurative speech of the Indians. 
‘‘ Red men and brothers, we have heard your 
words of warning and of esteem. You are as 
dear to us as is the spring sun to the young 
flower. Our departure from you is like the set- 
ting of the sun when all is left in darkness. But, 
brothers, we will return. Fear not for our 
safety. We go in the name of the Great Fath- 
er of the pale-faces. When we find the Mit-chi- 
sipi, we shall gather together all the tribes who 
live along its banks, and tell them that we have to 
speak of peace. We shall show them the arrow 


Farewell 69 

with the broken point, and tell them to fight no 
more. We shall build forts to protect them from 
the English and the Iroquois. We shall teach 
them to build houses and to cultivate the fields. 
Then we shall return to you. Fear not for our 
safety, for the Great Spirit will keep us from all 
harm. Farewell, brothers. Before the snow 
covers the ground, we shall be with you 
again.” 

The last to speak was Father Marquette. He 
told the Indians that another Black-robe would 
come to take his place. Morning and evening 
they were to say their prayers in the chapel, and 
at dusk were to assemble to sing hymns. Then 
he raised his cross and began the litany of the 
Blessed Virgin; at once the whole village joined 
in one loud chorus. When the canoes were far 
out on the lake, the singing continued. Then the 
refrain was scarcely audible ; soon only the dip of 
the oars could be heard as the light crafts sped 
quickly and noiselessly over the waters of Lake 
Michigan. 


CHAPTER VIIL 


TWO CAUSES OF COMPLAINT. 

P IERRE awoke. It was the morning after 
the first day’s voyage. Pierre listened. 
He looked at the tent overhead, at the 
poles which supported it, and at the deerskins 
which covered it; he looked through the small 
opening of the tent at the lake near by, and at the 
camp-fire around which Lataupine and Paul were 
busily engaged preparing breakfast. Then 
Pierre listened again, and again looked at the 
tent, the lake, and his companions. Could that 
be the sound of a violin ? Had not the hated in- 
strument been sunk in Lake Michigan? Pierre 
raised the skin at the side of the tent, and saw, 
seated on a log, Frangois Moussart, playing his 
violin. ‘‘ Nom d’un chien,” he growled. 

“ You are a sound sleeper,” said Sieur Joliet, 


70 


Two Causes of Complaint ji 

thrusting his head beneath the covering. ‘‘ You 
have no doubt heard the music without.’^ 

“ Parbleu ! I thought the infernal instrument 
was buried in the lake ! 

‘‘ No ! no ! Stephen Dorval smuggled it into 
the canoe yesterday, Now that it is here, I want 
to say a word to you about it. I want you to 
give me your solemn promise, and your word as 
a gentleman, that you will not destroy the vio- 
lin.’’ 

“ Why am I suspected ? ” asked the cripple. 

“ Because you not only threatened to break the 
instrument; but, on your own confession, ac- 
knowledge that you attempted to throw it into 
the lake.” 

I did try ! I did try ! And I am sorry that 
I did not succeed! Monsieur Joliet, that fiddle 
will be the death of this party.” 

I shall see to that ; only promise me that you 
will make no further effort to destroy the violin, 
and I promise you that it will cause us no harm. 


72 Two Causes of Complaint 

for Frangois has promised to leave it in my canoe, 
and to play it only when I give permission.’' 

‘‘ I promise, monsieur.” 

‘‘ Your solemn word as a gentleman? ” 

My solemn word as a Frenchman and a 
coureur-de-bois. One name is enough, but, 
there! you have them both.” 

And now may I ask you what you did to de- 
stroy the violin ? ” 

I went to the canoes the night before we 
started and threw the box and the devil thing 
into the lake.” 

Felix,” cried Joliet to Lataupine, ‘‘ your seal 
oil is in the lake at the mission.” 

And how do you know, monsieur ? ” 

‘‘ ril leave Pierre to explain ; he’s not quite 
awake as yet. He’ll tell you when you start.” 

“ And what are we to use for cooking? ” 

“ Bear fat will do just as well.” 

And where am I to get the bear ? ” 

^Hf I had time I could get you one this morn- 


Two Causes of Complaint 73 

ing; but since we must start soon you can cook 
breakfast without it.” 

In the meantime Pierre had walked over to 
Frangois. ‘‘ Vielle,” he began, you are a 
sharper man than I gave you credit for being. 
Parbleu! I said that devil thing would never 
come on this voyage, but here it is. I have given 
my word that I’d not break or harm it. It is safe 
now unless you yourself smash it, or unless you 
attract some Indians who will not only break 
your music-box, but also scalp us, as they 
came near doing once before.” 

‘‘ I was taught a lesson then. I have prom- 
ised the Sieur not to play a note until he has de- 
cided that it is safe to do so.” 

Pierre was beaten and humiliated. He took 
his defeat in the best of spirits, and never once 
showed any malice toward the man who had out- 
witted him. 

Father Marquette, who had walked up the 
beech some distance to recite his office, now 


74 'Two Causes of Complaint 

joined the company and laughed heartily when 
told of the joke on Pierre. The breakfast was, 
necessarily a simple one of cold biscuits, warmed 
meat, and tea. It was calculated that the party 
had sufficient tea and sugar for the whole voy- 
age. Only a small box of biscuits had been pro- 
vided, since they would not keep for a long time ; 
but several bags of corn were stored away in the 
canoes. For the rest the party depended on fish 
and game and wild fruit. They carried two tents, 
not like the pointed wigwams of the Indians, 
but lighter and more serviceable, the invention of 
Lataupine. The tent consisted of a horizontal 
bar, supported at either end by stakes, fastened 
at the top. The covering was of dressed deer- 
skin. 

‘‘Have we a pagan Indian with us?’^ asked 
Joliet, as he and Pierre were striking the tents. 

“ Indian ? repeated Pierre. 

“ Yes, Indian, and a pagan Indian. Don’t you 
see these marks on the ground ? ” 


Two Causes of Complaint 75 

By the blessed angels ! ” cried Pierre. Then 
he went closer to Joliet and continued almost in 
a whisper. That is the devil’s work, but it was 
done by his agent, Dorval.” Pierre stopped and 
examined the marks carefully. There could be 
no doubt about the matter — some one had 
drawn a circle around the camp with bear claws, 
stopping at intervals to press the sharp claws into 
the ground. Again Pierre went to Joliet. 
“ Dorval is the man. I saw him going around 
the tents last night and wondered what he was 
about. He’s the fellow that brought the fiddle 
with him, and he has brought his incantations, 
and with them the devil. Parbleu ! He has been 
with the Indians so long that he believes in their 
devil tricks and incantations! He has brought 
more than a fiddle. He has brought the devil.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE LEADER AND THE OUTLAW. 

T he camp was some distance from the shore, 
where the rest of the party was awaiting 
the two men before embarking; no one, 
therefore, could catch the words of Pierre. The 
cripple felt that he had taken revenge upon Dor- 
val for smuggling aboard the fiddle. 

Leave this matter to me,’' said Joliet. Get 
into your boat and row off with the priest and the 
boy, and Pll say a word to Stephen Dorval that 
will let him know Pll have none of his supersti- 
tious practices on this expedition.” 

Carrying the light tents to the beach, the men 
placed them in the larger of the two canoes, 
Pierre embarking at once with Paul and Father 
Marquette. Joliet found an excuse for a delay 
76 


The Leader and the Outlaw 77 

until the small canoe was some distance from the 
shore. “ Monsieur Stephen Dorval/’ he began, 
'' this is but the second day of our expedition, 
and still I have reason to regret that I accepted 
you as one of the party.” 

May I ask your reason ? ” 

‘‘ This is a sacred expedition,” continued Joliet, 
without heeding the question ; “ it is undertaken 
in the name of a Christian king, and for the con- 
version of pagan nations.” 

Monsieur, I am aware of all that.” 

Nothing pertaining to superstitious practices 
must be tolerated,” continued the leader. '' We 
look to the protection of heaven and not to that 
of evil spirits.” 

“ Monsieur, your words are a puzzle to me. 
All you say is true; but why do you regret that 
I am one of the party? ” 

“ Because your superstitious practices will 
bring a curse and not a blessing on the expe- 
dition.” 


78 The Leader and the Outlaw 

I do not understand.” 

'' You do not want to understand.” 

I do. You have accused me of unfaithful- 
ness, and will not give me the reason for your 
accusation.” 

“No reason is necessary ; your conscience, if 
you had one, would be its own accuser.” 

“ I protest against these insinuations.” 

“ And I protest against your line of conduct. 
It is not too late; you are free to leave the party 
and return to the mission.” 

“ Monsieur Joliet,” cried Dorval, “ I have been 
accepted as a member of the expedition, and I 
intend to remain a member. If you have any ac- 
cusations to make, make them; but whatever be 
the nature of your complaint, I will never turn 
back.” 

“ We are three to one,” replied the leader 
coolly, “ and if force should be needed, resistance 
on your part would be useless. But let me tell 
you why I have complained of your conduct. 


The Leader and the Outlaw 79 

Let me simply remind you that the charms which 
you practised last night, and the magic circle 
which you drew around the camp with your bear 
claws, are in keeping with the beliefs of a pagan 
Huron, and not consistent with the faith of a 
Christian.” 

“ Did you see me draw the circle ? ” 

“ No.” 

‘‘ Did any one see me ? ” 

“ Pierre saw you.” 

The fool. I did walk around the tent to 
fasten the ropes, but I made no marks. I did not 
have the bear claws to make them with.” 

Joliet was silent. Come,” said he after a 
short pause, “ let us see those marks.” 

Perhaps you have both been talking to the 
wind, and there were no marks,” suggested La- 
taupine, who had with regret listened to the 
words of the leader and the outlaw. 

“ Suppose I restore peace and harmony by the 
sweet charms of music,” said Moussart, as the 


8o The Leader and the Outlaw 

four took their way to the site of the camp. 

There can be no doubt about those marks,” 
affirmed Lataupine, as he stooped and examined 
the circle and the impressions made by the claws. 

The circle was made by some one who has 
lived with the pagan Hurons, or who has closely 
observed their practices. The double ring is 
there, and the marks of the claws are the proper 
distance apart.” 

“ What have you to say to that? ” asked Joliet 
of Dorval. 

Monsieur,” was the reply, I give you credit 
for some sense and more logic. The marks are 
there and therefore I made them. Let me tell 
you that I did not make them. Until you spoke 
to me I did not know that the marks had been 
made. I have nothing further to say.” 

“ I have it,” affirmed Lataupine, bringing his 
closed right fist into the palm of his left hand. 
“ I have it. It is the work of Paul, and he 
learned it from Red Bear, the young friend who 


The Leader and the Outlaw 8i 

ran away from home with him and taught him all 
kinds of superstitious practices.” 

‘‘ I beg your pardon, monsieur,” said Joliet, 
turning to Dorval. I was too hasty in my con- 
clusions. I should have investigated before mak- 
ing the accusation. I trust that this our first 
misunderstanding will be the last.” 

“ I know it will,” replied Dorval as he grasped 
the hand of the leader. “ I have started on this 
expedition with the intention of serving my king 
so faithfully that all past offences will be for- 
gotten.” 

It must have been a joke of the boy,” re- 
sumed Joliet as the men retraced their steps to- 
ward the lake. 

I fear it is no joke,” was the answer of La- 
taupine. “ I’ve had an eye on those two boys for 
the past six months — the Huron has been mak- 
ing a pagan out of his French companion.” 

“ If he made the marks, it was in jest,” inter- 
rupted the leader. The boy has too much com- 


82 The Leader and the Outlaw 

mon sense and too much faith to put his trust in 
such nonsensical practices/’ 

‘‘ Pardon me, monsieur,” affirmed Dorval, 
“ while these infernal practices of the Indians 
have never made any impression on me, and 
while, as I stated and here again state on my 
honor, that I did not make the marks last night, 
nor ever in my life was influenced by witnessing 
any diabolical tricks or incantations, yet I have 
seen trappers who were completely won over by 
the Indians. They believed in all kinds of devil- 
worship, and never set a trap without invoking a 
devil. It is just possible that the boy has been 
influenced by his long association with the pagan 
Huron.” 

“ I hope your explanation is not the true one,” 
replied Joliet ; ‘‘ still we shall have time to talk 
the matter over after our canoe has started.. 
Voila! the other canoe is far ahead of us; let us 
start at once.” 

Lataupine and Dorval took the oars; Joliet 


The Leader and the Outlaw 83 

steered, and Moussart played upon his fiddle. 
Throughout the day the conversation turned 
upon the mysterious circle, and all were agreed 
that they had been drawn by Paul. It only re- 
mained to discover the motives of his action. 


CHAPTER X. 


THE SECOND CAMP-FIRE. 

are a good oarsman, Paul,” said Fath- 
■ er Marquette. “ I have watched you all 
day and have wondered how you could 
row without being tired.” 

‘‘ It is a trick I learned from Red Bear,” re- 
plied the boy. 

‘‘And there are other tricks you've learned 
from Red Bear,” put in Pierre, who all day had 
been waiting for Paul to mention the name of 
the Indian. “ I say there are other tricks you've 
learned from Red Bear. You’ve learned super- 
stitious practices — devil tricks, which will keep 
the blessing of God from this expedition.” 

“ What practices and what tricks ? ” asked the 
missionary who was surprised at the assertion of 

84 


The Second Camp-Fire 85 

the cripple, judging from his tone of voice that 
he was not speaking in jest. 

“ I’ll leave him to explain,” cried out Pierre, 
at the same time drawing from Paul’s pocket a 
string of bear toes, which he held out before the 
priest. This little rascal has become a pagan,” 
he continued with some warmth. ‘‘ He has 
brought these bear toes to draw magic circles 
around the camp at night and by the power of 
the devil to keep the devil away.” 

Paul made no reply to the accusation. 

‘‘ You do not believe in such practices? ” asked 
the priest. 

‘‘ Why did he make the marks ? Why did he 
bring the devil things along?” argued the crip- 
ple without waiting for the boy to reply. 

“ Red Bear gave them to me,” said Paul turn- 
ing toward the missionary who was sitting in the 
stern of the canoe. 

‘‘And he gave them to you to draw magic 
circles,” affirmed the cripple. 


86 The Second Camp-Fire 

Not so fast, monsieur, give the boy time to 
explain/’ 

‘‘ Pardon me. Father, but it’s bad enough to 
have a fiddle on the expedition to draw the at- 
tention of the savages; but it’s worse to have 
charms and bear toes to draw the attention of 
the devil.” Then Pierre was silent and Paul ex- 
plained how he happened to have the bear claws 
in his possession. 

Father,” he began, “ I did bring those claws 
with me, and I received them from the Bear. 
When we were gathering the lilacs on the island 
and the Huron saw the convoy of canoes, he sud- 
denly left me standing near the high bluff from 
which he afterward leaped to swim for the 
canoes. Running back into the bushes he placed 
a string of claws in a bunch of lilacs which I had 
cut ; afterward when I went to collect the flowers 
the claws dropped to the ground. I picked them 
up and kept them for — ” 


The Second Camp-Fire 87 

“ Such tricks as you played last night,” in- 
terrupted the excited Pierre. 

** Let him finish his story,” said the priest. 

“ That is all I have to say. Father. I picked 
up the claws and kept them to remember my 
Indian friend.” 

“ And to draw circles,” insisted Pierre. 

“ What circles ? ” asked the boy. 

‘‘ The circle you drew around the camp last 
night, and you stopped every three feet to press 
the claws into the ground..” 

“ This is the first time I heard about it. I 
must have been walking in my sleep.” 

“ And you did not make the circles ? ” 

Not while I was awake.” 

‘‘ Parbleu, if you did not make them I know 
who did.” 

How is this ? ” asked the missionary ; a mo- 
ment ago you accused the boy of making the cir- 
cles around the camp and now that he denies it 


88 The Second Camp-Fire 

you say that you know who did it. Did you 
see Paul drawing the circle ? 

“ It was Dorval I saw going around the camp 
and in the morning I saw the circle. Still I knew 
that the boy had the claws with him and wanted 
to find out whether he had been guilty of the su- 
perstitious practice. He denies it; then it was 
Dorval!^’ 

‘‘ Perhaps he did it in jest/* replied the priest 
mildly. 

“ It was no jest when he brought the fiddle 
along in the box and was the cause of my throw- 
ing the cooking oil into the lake/* remonstrated 
Pierre. “ That was no joke — and there is go- 
ing to be trouble on this expedition with all this 
music and Indian incantations.** 

The priest only smiled at the gloomy predic- 
tions of the cripple. It will not happen again, 
for if Monsieur Dorval understands that we do 
not approve of such jokes he will not repeat 
them.** 


The Second Camp-Fire 89 

By this time the two oarsmen had taken up 
their paddles and the light canoe glided over 
the water near the shore. Close behind followed 
the second canoe with its four voyagers. They, 
too, had at times referred to the mysterious marks 
which had all but caused a rupture between 
Joliet and Dorval. 

The shadows from the tall pines along the lake 
shore were reaching out over the water, a signal 
for the weary voyagers to land and prepare their 
camp for the second night’s rest. As they were 
in the land of friendly Indians no precautions 
were taken against an attack or surprise. La- 
taupine soon had his camp kettle swinging from 
a tripod over a blazing fire, Joliet and Moussart 
raised the tents. Father Marquette was walking 
quietly along the shore reading his office, (the 
prayers which the priest has to recite each day), 
while the three remaining members of the expe- 
dition collected dry wood for the cook. No time 
was lost in seeking for game or fish, as the party 


90 The Second Camp-Fire 

had sufficient provisions to last for several days. 

Father Marquette insisted on all joining in 
prayers before seeking their much needed rest. 
Moussart then played upon his fiddle, greatly to 
the dismay of Pierre, whose imagination pictured 
a party of Iroquois darting from the bush to 
scalp the Frenchmen. 

On the following morning, there around the 
camp were the marks of the bear claws. Every 
member of the expedition disclaimed having 
made them. Pierre accused Paul and Dorval; 
Lataupine accused Pierre. Both Joliet and the 
priest laughed at what they considered a joke of 
the cripple. Moussart alone was silent. 


CHAPTER XL 


A CLUE AT LAST. 

^^lYfHY did you change places with Mous- 
sart ? ” asked Dorval of Pierre, when 
the canoes were some distance from 

the land. 

‘‘ Why did he change with me ! ’’ was the only 
answer. “ ’Twas his doing and not mine.” 

“ He may not be the guilty party,” continued 
Dorval ; but I wish to make one assertion. 
The man who has been drawing the circles 
around the camp is in the small canoe.” 

It isn't Master Paul,” spoke up Lataupine. 
I have been suspecting the little rascal ; but last 
night I had a long talk with him and he assured 
me that he knew nothing about the matter.” 

'' Then it is either Moussart, or Father Mar- 
quette,” said Joliet. 


91 


92 


A Clue at Last 


By the Holy Angels ! ’’ cried the cripple, 
who would dare accuse the priest of such devil 
tricks?” 

Don’t be too hasty,” affirmed Dorval. ‘‘ I 
have not accused the priest. Besides, in my opin- 
ion he could draw the circles as a means of pro- 
tection and still not be guilty of superstition.” 
Both Pierre and Lataupine were about to inter- 
rupt him, but he silenced them and continued. 
‘‘ Let me explain. Father Marquette has not 
lived with the Indians as long as some of us ; and 
yet he knows more about them. The missionary 
gets to the heart of the Indian; he is never de- 
ceived; he knows just when there is danger, just 
when to let them alone. I did not say that the 
priest drew the circles; but he may have drawn 
them. He may have heard of some threatening 
danger, and that this danger could be averted 
by drawing circles around the camp.” 

“ He never would do it ; he could not do it,” 
argued the pious Lataupine. 


f 


A Clue at Last 


93 

You do not seem to catch my explanation,” 
pleaded Dorval. “ I know as well as you do that 
the missionary does not believe in superstitious 
practices ; but he knows that Indians do believe in 
them. He would be justified in making use of 
them as a means of self-protection.” 

Never ! ” cried Lataupine horrified at such 
teaching. 

Parbleu ! never ! ” reiterated Pierre. 

I appeal to you, Sieur,” said Dorval, turning 
to Joliet, “ am I not right? ” 

If I understand the case it is this,” replied the 
leader. ‘‘ Father Marquette has been informed 
that Indians will not kill those, around whose 
camp a circle has been drawn with bear claws. 
He knows that the Indians are influenced by su- 
perstitious motives and therefore he makes use 
of their superstitions to protect himself.” 

That is exactly the case.” 

‘‘ He would never do it ! ” interrupted Pierre. 

‘‘ Never ! ” exclaimed Lataupine. 


94 


A Clue at Last 


‘‘ We are waiting for Sieur Joliet to decide/’ 
said Dorval. 

If I could save my life in this way Td do it,” 
replied the leader, ‘‘ for it is not wrong.” 

So would I do it to save my life,” said the 
cripple, “but the priest wouldn’t; it’s wrong.” 

“ I didn’t intend to bring in the question of the 
missionary,” continued Dorval. “ Lataupine is 
responsible for that. When I said that some one 
in the small canoe drew the circles I referred to 
Moussart. Let me explain again. The night 
before we embarked on the expedition Moussart 
and myself went over to the mound where the 
Hurons were dancing and beating their war 
drum. We got separated in the dark, and he 
crept much closer to the spot than I did. I did 
not know at the time that the infernal noise they 
made had anything to do with our expedition. 
I believe now that Moussart discovered some se- 
cret plot to murder us and that the magic circles 
would be a protection to us. He said nothing 


A Clue at Last 


95 

about the matter, to avoid any useless alarm, but 
still he drew the circles as a protection/’ 

“ Now that you mention the fact, I recall that 
he never said a word when the rest of us were ac- 
cused of drawing the circles,” put in Joliet. 

“ And yet,” replied Dorval, “ if there is danger 
I do not see why he should keep the matter from 
us. 

Nor I,” answered the leader. 

“ They were not drawn by the missionary,” 
affirmed Lataupine, anxious to defend the good 
name of the priest. 

They were made by the devil, and some night 
I am going to catch him,” asserted the cripple. 

That night after supper Dorval asked Mous- 
sart to stroll with him along the lake shore. The 
latter consented, and, during the conversation 
which followed, assured his companion that he 
knew nothing of the cause of the marks and had 
received no intimation of any danger. 


CHAPTER XIL 


ANOTHER MYSTERY. 

F or four days the voyagers skirted the 
northern shore of Lake Michigan, camp- 
ing on the beach and twice finding in the 
morning the mysterious marks around the tents. 
Once at midnight the party was aroused from 
sleep by cries of alarm from Pierre. The fright- 
ened Frenchmen leaped from their beds and 
grasped their weapons. “ Mille tonnerres ! IVe 
caught the devil at last,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ By 
the holy angels, it must be the devil and no one 
else who is making the charms around the camp. 
He has owned this country so long that he doesn’t 
want us to teach the Indians about God. Listen 
and you will believe me. And I’ll tell it just as 
it happened. The boy and the priest were sleep- 
ing with me in our tent, but I wasn’t sleeping. 
96 


Another Mystery 97 

Parbleu ! not a wink ! not a wink the blessed night ! 
rd the covering so arranged that I could see if 
any one passed in front of the tent and kept the 
fire burning all night. Not a wink did I sleep — 
not once did I close my eyes ; and just now when 
I went to put some faggots on the fire there the 
circles were. No one could have made theml 
so it was the devil.” 

With difficulty the priest quieted him, and then 
called on all present to promise that they would 
not continue what he called a joke. Although the 
marks were defaced they were found again in 
the morning and on every successive morning un- 
til the outlet of the Bay of Puans (Green Bay) 
was reached and the camp was made in the 
woods, where it was all but impossible to distin- 
guish the impressions on the ground. 

Into the bay flowed a little stream. As the 
fresh meat had given out, the whole party left 
the camp one evening to fish, and on returning 
found the mysterious circles around the camp. 


98 Another Mystery 

Pierre, who had gone some little distance farther 
up the stream, returned to the camp later than 
the others and brought with him more fish than 
the rest of the party. 

“ Why did you not call us, since they were 
biting so well?” asked Joliet, holding up the 
string of fine brook-trout for the admiration of 
the party. 

Pierre only shook his head in a way that 
showed he was displeased about something. 

“ You must have had a bear claw with you for 
good luck,” put in Lataupine. 

‘‘ Believe me, messieurs, I did not catch a fish.” 

‘‘ Then where did you get the fish ? ” asked the 
priest, in the midst of a general laugh. 

Where did I get them? You will not believe 
me when I tell you. Parbleu ! You will accuse 
me of being in league with evil spirits.”. 

“ But tell us about the fish,” demanded Joliet, 
as the party still examined the splendid catch. 


Another Mystery 99 

and wondered how one person could take so many 
in so short a time. 

Pierre still shook his head. 

‘‘ I do believe the poor man’s mind has been 
affected,” whispered the priest to Joliet. 

‘‘ He has been acting strangely for the past 
few days,” was the reply. 

“ And yet,” said the missionary, he has 
worked steadily at the oar.” 

Tell us my good man, how did you catch so 
many fish ? ” continued the priest, taking the hand 
of the cripple. 

Parbleu ! What I said is gospel truth. I 
did not catch a fish.” 

Then where did you get them? ” 

“ Found them hanging on the limb of a tree.” 

This statement was followed by a roar of 
laughter; and master Paul turned a handspring 
on the soft sand. 

I told you, you would not believe me,” as- 


100 Another Mystery 

serted the cripple, “ and I don’t blame you, for I 
scarcely believe myself. But it is gospel truth. 
I sat until it was getting dark without having 
a single bite. As I was rising to start for the 
camp I heard some noise, and turning around, I 
saw the string of fish hanging on a small tree 
near me. Explain it if you can. It is as much 
a mystery to me as the marks around the camp.” 

‘‘ I half believed that the marks were made 
by the power of the evil spirits,” said Lataupine, 
‘‘ but now that these spirits have brought us fish 
to eat I am at a loss to explain either fact.” 

“ The old fool is lying,” asserted Dorval. 
“ He cannot frighten or deceive me with his sto- 
ries. He was sure that he saw me draw the 
circle on the first night; then he saw Paul; and 
now he has a wonderful story about spirits bring- 
ing him a string of fish.” 

All enjoyed a hearty supper on the fish so 
mysteriously provided. The missionary and the 
leader, after some consultation, decided that it 


Another Mystery loi 

was more prudent to remove the camp and to ex- 
tinguish the fire to prevent a surprise. They 
were now drawing near the villages of the Me- 
nominee, or Rice Indians, on the upper part of 
the Bay of Puans. It was just possible that some 
friendly Indian had brought the fish; and it did 
not seem impossible that an Indian would present 
his gift in this way. It was equally possible for 
some unfriendly or thievish Indian to rob them 
if they kept the fire burning brightly. 


CHAPTER XIIL 


THE RICE INDIANS. 

is the mission and there is the 
* cross planted by Father Allouez/’ said 
Father Marquette to Paul as their canoe 
glided along the northern shore of the bay of 
Puans, which narrowed until it was but a few 
hundred yards in width. As the priest spoke he 
pointed to an Indian village at the upper end of 
the bay, where some fifty wigwams of birch- 
bark gleamed like banks of snow among the 
green foliage. On an elevation, with its arms 
outstretched against the glowing western sky, 
stood the mission cross erected by that pioneer 
laborer. Father Allouez. 

“ And are all the Menominees Christians ? '' 
asked the boy. 


102 


The Rice Indicms 


103 


‘‘ No, my child, not all of them ; in every vil- 
lage there are some who resist all the efforts of 
the missionaries.” 

“Just as the Red Bear did,” suggested the 
boy. 

“ Just as the devil is always doing,” inter- 
rupted Pierre, ever ready to fight at the mention 
of the Huron’s name. 

“ But let us hope and pray that they will all be 
baptized some day,” replied the priest, not heed- 
ing the words of the cripple. “ But see,” he con- 
tinued, “ here is the wild rice of which I have 
been talking all day; it is just appearing above the 
water. In September, when the Indians gather 
the harvest, the stems are about six feet in 
height.” 

Here in the upper part of the bay the water is 
shallow and the entire surface was covered with 
wild rice. The French gave it the name of folks 
avoine or wild oats. Growing in the slimy bot- 
toms of rivers and marshes, its slender stems 


The Rice Indians 


104 

clustered together so closely that the surface of 
the water was entirely concealed and presented 
the appearance of a vast stretch of cultivated 
land. During the spring and summer months 
wild ducks sported therein, and fished and dived 
in the muddy bottom for crawfish; linnets and 
blackbirds rested upon the fragile stalks, which 
swayed and dipped their bearded heads into the 
water ; and shoals of perch found protection from 
the bass and pickerel which swam with difficulty 
among the tangled growth. But it was in the 
fall that the scene was the busiest and most va- 
ried. Then the Indian fought with bird and ani- 
mal for the possession of the harvest. Early in 
September the grain began to ripen. Flocks of 
blackbirds gathered the first fruits of the harvest, 
for they could pick the grain before it was suffi- 
ciently ripe to be shaken from the bearded heads 
into the Indian canoe. After a few days the Me- 
nominee appeared upon the scene. It mattered 
not how early he came, the birds were always be- 


The Rice Indians 


105 

fore him. He pushed his canoe out into this sub- 
merged field where nature had planted and cul- 
tivated his harvest. Great flocks of birds arose 
in a wild chorus of fright as soon as he ap- 
peared. He needed no wagon to carry the straw 
to the wigwam, he needed no sickle to cut it. 
With both hands he bent the stems and shook 
the yellow grain into the canoe. Here was a 
bountiful harvest for the idle child of the for- 
est. 

In many a marsh of Wisconsin, and many a 
river, the scene has changed but little to-day. 
Wild ducks still dive for minnows and crawfish, 
and linnets and blackbirds still rise in flocks from 
the submerged fields of ripening grain; only the 
Indian and his canoe have vanished from the 
scene. 

Soon the Menominee Indians saw the two 
canoes of the voyagers, and ran to the bank to 
meet them, their greeting being all the more 
demonstrative, as the Black-gown was noticed in 


io6 The Rice Indians 

the party. On leaving the Menominees the pre- 
vious year, Father Allouez had promised them 
that he would send another missionary to take 
his place. Thinking, therefore, that Father Mar- 
quette had come to remain with them, they led 
him to a wigwam near the mission cross, and ex- 
tended to his companions every sign of hospital- 
ity. 

That night a great feast was prepared for 
the strangers, at which stewed fish and rice were 
served. Then the pipe of peace was smoked and 
the chief welcomed the Black-gown in the name 
of the tribe. After this ceremony, Moussart was 
invited to play for the host and his people. The 
Indians were charmed with the music, for not 
one of them had ever heard the note of a violin 
before. Moussart played until he was tired, but 
the chief and the tribe clamored to have the music 
continued. To entertain his audience he played 
until his fingers were numb and the instrument 
fell from his hand. For a moment the guests 


The Rice Indians 


107 

were puzzled ; they wished to humor their 
friends, and at the same time they saw that Mous- 
sart could play no longer. Lataupine was the 
first to solve the problem. He concluded that 
the noise was the only thing that pleased the Me- 
nominees, and that they could not distinguish one 
note from another, so he grasped the violin and 
began to draw the bow over the strings with 
rapid motion, whereat the savages expressed their 
delight by low moans and by clapping their hands 
vigorously. The instrument was then passed to 
Joliet and on to each of the visiting party, not 
excluding the missionary and Pierre. 

Father Marquette could speak the language 
of the Menominees, as it was but a dialect of the 
Huron tongue. He therefore addressed the peo- 
ple and explained the object of his visit. They 
were grieved to learn that he was to leave them 
on the following morning, and pleaded with him 
to remain ; first, because they wished to listen to 
his instructions, and secondly, because they be- 


io8 The Rice Indians 

lieved that he and his companions were going to 
certain death. The chief arose and repeated the 
words of warning which the savages at the mis- 
sion of Saint Ignace had given ; he told the story 
of the frightful monsters that swallowed up men 
and canoes; of the demon whose voice was like 
thunder, who stopped the current of the river and 
engulfed all who dared approach; of the exces- 
sive heat which infallibly brought death; of the 
war parties which roamed the country and killed 
all whom they met. 

The missionary thanked them for their advice, 
but told them that he could not follow it, as the 
salvation of souls was concerned; that he was 
sent by the Great Spirit to teach the Indians the 
way to heaven and was willing to lose his life for 
them; that he feared not the demon or the river 
monsters. After instructing the Christian sav- 
ages, he dismissed them with a promise to repeat 
the lessons on the following morning, and to re- 


The Rice Indians 


log 

turn if possible and remain with them after the 
voyage of discovery. 

The priest was about to enter a wigwam, 
which had been assigned to him and Paul, when 
the lad leaped to his feet and cried, Father, 
father. I’m bitten by a rattlesnake ! ” 

Lataupine, Lataupine,” called the priest, as 
he stooped and examined a red mark upon the 
lower part of the boy’s left leg. 

Here I am,” and the trapper ran from the 
wigwam where he was sleeping. 

Serpent-d-sonnettes” exclaimed the priest, 
indicating the peculiar flower or weed used for 
counteracting the poison of the snake. 

“ Serpent, serpent ! ” cried Lataupine at the top 
of his voice, and the whole village was in a com- 
motion. A dozen ugly squaws came with reme- 
dies made of the snake-weed. This weed or 
flower resembled the Indian turnip or jack-in- 
the-pulpit, and was a sure cure for snake bites. 


no 


The Rice Indians 


Just do as they tell you, my lad, and they will 
cure you,” was the order of Lataupine, as he 
rested the boy’s head upon his knee. 

A squaw applied a poultice to the wound and 
bound it with bark. 

That stings worse than the bite,” protested 
Paul. 

Don’t mind the sting ; one sting is cured by 
another,” was Lataupine’s reply. 

“ And what is that for ? ” asked the lad, as 
another squaw approached and oifered him a 
morsel which she had just taken from her own 
mouth. 

“ Don’t ask so many questions. She has only 

I 

chewed the snake-weed to remove the bitterness. 
Swallow it at once.” 

The lad obeyed. Then half a dozen squaws 
surrounded him, each presenting a mouth full of 
the weed which she had chewed. Paul looked at 
one then at another. ‘‘ Monsieur ! ” pleaded he, 
‘‘ is there no other way of saving my life? ” 


The Rice Indians 


III 


‘‘ No ! no ! you must take it all.” 

Morsel after morsel was crammed into his 
mouth. “ Poor boy,” muttered the priest who 
was witnessing the scene. But the Indians and 
Lataupine know best; do as they tell you.” 

The squaw who had put the poultice on the 
wound removed it, and, stooping, sucked the 
poisoned blood from the leg, after which she 
covered the sore with another poultice. 

Here is your last dose,” said Lataupine, as 
he held to the boy’s mouth a gourd of water in 
which had been dissolved some powdered snake- 
weed. The Indians believed that by both inter- 
nal and external applications the effects of the 
poison would be more quickly and easily counter- 
acted. 

While the squaws were administering the medi- 
cine within the wigwam, fully twenty braves were 
searching for the snake, believing that its death 
would bring about a more certain and speedy cure 
of the victim. Each of them was armed with a 


II2 


The Rice Indians 


forked stick by which he could capture the snake 
without killing it. It was finally caught and 
brought into the wigwam, and in the presence of 
the sick boy was forced to swallow the same mor- 
sels which had been given to Paul. As soon as 
it ate the weed it became rigid and in a few min- 
utes was dead. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE FIRE NATION AND BEYOND. 

njpHE remedies administered by the squaws 
* entirely removed the swelling from the 
leg of Paul, who on the following morn- 
ing was able to resume the voyage. As it was 
thought more prudent not to let him row, he ex- 
changed places with Joliet. The Indians pro- 
vided him with a mat of reeds which was placed 
in the bottom of the large canoe so that he could 
lie down all that day. 

The voyagers had now rowed more than two 
hundred miles. Shortly after leaving the Me- 
nominees’ village, they entered the mouth of a 
small stream now called Fox River. On the 
banks of this river, and near the present city of 
Green Bay, lived the Fire Nation. They, too, 


1 14 The Fire Nation and Beyond 

had been converted by Father Allouez and had 
been among the most docile tribes west of Lake 
Michigan. The priest was consoled to find a 
large cross erected in the center of the village and 
the savages eager for instruction. But his stay 
among them could not be prolonged. The cabins 
were made of reeds instead of birch, as the bark 
was scarce in the low swampy country. Corn 
fields surrounded the village, plum trees were nu- 
merous, and grape vines garlanded the trees and 
shrubs. 

Beyond this village no Frenchman had passed; 
the voyagers therefore took with them two guides. 
It was with feelings of mingled fear and curios- 
ity that they departed from this place and turned 
the prows of their canoes into waters never yet 
disturbed by the oar of the pale-face. Up the 
waters of the current of the Fox River they 
slowly worked their way, paddled across the large 
lake, now called Winnebago, and again entered 
the upper branch of the same river. 


The Fire Nation and Beyond 115 

No one enjoyed this part of the voyage more 
than did Paul. Resting upon his mat of reeds 
with his head elevated sufficiently to observe all 
around him, he viewed with never-flagging inter- 
est the shifting scene of sky, earth, and water. 
Now it was a lazy turtle which, awakened from 
sleep by the sound of the oars brushing against 
the side of a log, fell clumsily into its slimy do- 
main; now it was a flock of ducks or blackbirds 
which rose in clamorous chorus from out the 
reeds and wild oats; now it was a deer which 
sped away as it scented danger, even though it 
had never heard the crack of the deadly rifle or 
the voice of man. At times, the pines in un- 
broken phalanx reached down to the water’s edge ; 
then there were patches of birch, and when the 
ground was hilly oaks and walnuts were numer- 
ous. 

As the party proceeded in a southwesterly di- 
rection, the channel of the Fox River became nar- 
row and was all but choked by the grass and wild 


ii6 The Fire Nation and Beyond 

oats. Even the Indian guides with difficulty 
picked their way through the tortuous, mazy cur- 
rent. Often they would leave the party and 
search for the channel an hour before finding it. 
Early one afternoon they informed the French- 
men that the portage was but a few hundred 
yards away. 

As the water was shallow and the banks high 
and dry, both Frenchmen and Indians disem- 
barked and dragged the canoes up the stream, 
then, lifting them on their backs, carried them 
across the short portage to the Wisconsin (Mes- 
kousing) River. 

And this is the current which is to bear us 
to the great river of New France,” exclaimed 
Marquette, glancing out over the clear swift 
stream. 

“ If our calculations are correct, this river 
should carry us to the Mit-chi-sipi,” replied Jol- 
iet, as he carefully let down from his shoulder the 
canoe which he and Dorval were carrying. 


The Fire Nation and Beyond 117 

‘‘Judging from the direction of the current, 
and the time it has taken us to reach this point, 
we have not failed in our calculations.” Then 
the priest removed his hat and glanced back at 
the other members of the expedition to see 
whether all had arrived. “ Let us return thanks 
to God,” said he, “ for assisting us thus far in our 
attempt, and let us beseech Him to lead us on in 
the right way.” 

All fell upon their knees and prayed in silence 
for a few moments. Truly it was a time and an 
occasion to invite prayer. The voyagers not only 
stood upon the banks of a strange river, where 
no white man had ever placed his foot ; but they 
were turning from the tributaries of the great in- 
land seas, and committing themselves to currents 
which would carry them — they knew not 
whither. Would this current dash them over 
some cataract, would it carry them to the Pacific 
Ocean or to the Gulf of Florida or to the great 
river which they were seeking? They knew not. 


ii8 The Fire Nation and Beyond 

“ No more rowing,” said Lataupine, who was 
the first to speak after the prayer was finished. 

That’s just what I’s thinking of when I was 
saying my prayers,” put in Pierre. 

Then you should say your prayers again,” 
remonstrated the priest laughingly. 

‘‘ Well, I was thanking the Lord for giving us 
so strong a current after so many days of rowing. 
You see it has been uphill work since the day we 
started.” 

‘‘ It has been hard work and you all deserve 
praise for it,” admitted Father Marquette. 

Dorval in the meantime was examining the 
canoes to see whether any gravel had fallen into 
them. “ Perhaps it would be better,” suggested 
he, “ if the current were not so swift ; for you 
must remember that we have to make a home 
trip.” 

‘‘ We’ll let that take care of itself,” replied the 
cripple. “ If we find the great river we’ll be will- 
ing to do anything to bring the news to Quebec.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


WONDERFUL STORY NUMBER TWO. 


the two Indian guides wished to begin 
their homeward trip immediately, Latau- 
pine prepared a meal for them and gave 
them provisions for two days. Father Mar- 
quette gave to each a necklace of glass beads, 
which more than repaid them for their service. 
The Frenchmen followed them back across the 
portage and watched them until their canoe was 
lost in the winding stream. 

‘‘ Let us hunt and fish for the rest of the day, 
and then start early in the morning,” suggested 
the leader of the expedition, when the party re- 
turned to the banks of the Meskousing. 

I am in favor of it,” replied Lataupine. 

‘‘ And I,” said Dorval and Moussart. 

And all of us,” put in the cripple. 


120 Wonderful Story Number Two 

“ I can’t say that I need a rest,” were the words 
of Paul, “ for I’ve been resting for many days ; 
still I’m anxious to have a fish.” 

“ And I’ll take my rifle and look for a deer,” 
said Pierre. 

“ Come and go fishing,” pleaded Joliet, who 
took great delight in joking with the cripple. 
“ Come and go fishing, and if we do not catch 
anything you can find a string hanging up in the 
trees.” 

'' I’ll find a deer strung up in the trees.” 

The fishing proved a failure, but the fishermen 
succeeded in killing a number of ducks. When 
darkness came on, a fire was built, and all had 
returned except Pierre. Father Marquette, who 
had stayed at the camp, reported that the cripple 
had taken one of the canoes and gone up the 
stream to get a deer which he had killed. Soon 
the hunter returned bringing a young doe; but 
he refused to tell when or how he had killed it. 

Before retiring that night the cripple called 


Wonderful Story Number Two 121 

Joliet aside to communicate to him a secret. 

Call me crazy if you will” he began in a whis- 
per. ‘‘ Say the country is haunted and full of 
devils and ghosts, and that I’m a fool; but I’m 
going to tell you the truth.” 

You always tell the truth.” 

“ Parbleu ! I do. But this is so strange you 
won’t believe me; just as you won’t believe about 
the fishes.” 

“ It was hard to believe about them.” 

“ Parbleu ! That it was ; but still it hap- 
pened.” 

'' And what strange thing has happened 
now ? ” 

That is just what I want to tell you about. 
You know that I went hunting this afternoon.” 
Yes.” 

‘‘ And I was alone.” 

Yes.” 

But you won’t believe me, monsieur.” 

“ Go on ; go on and tell me.” 


122 Wonderful Story Number Two 

‘‘ You will think that I am crazy, monsieur/' 

“Nonsense! you said that you had something 
important to tell me.” 

“ But it is so wonderful, so strange ; and yet 
I am sure it happened, for I brought the deer to 
the camp.” 

“ So it is about that deer you killed.” 

“ Yes, monsieur. As I said before I was alone. 
But I wasn’t alone all the time. I was sitting on 
a dead tree quietly looking around, when com- 
ing toward me was an Indian. On his shoulder 
he carried a deer. He stopped about fifty feet 
from me and hung the critter on the branch of a 
tree; then he made a noise to be sure that I had 
seen him and ran away.” 

“ It must have been one of the guides.” 

“ No, he was smaller and wore different stripes 
on his leather jacket.” 

“ That is strange.” 

“ I told you so ; and how is it that all these 
strange things happen to me.” 


Wonderful Story Number Two 123 

“ I can't explain it ; but it must have been one 
of the guides. You see they left us early in the 
afternoon so as to kill the deer for us." 

But there was only one, and why did he not 
bring the deer to me or bring it to the camp? " 

“ Indians do strange things," was Joliet’s only 
reply. 

The two walked slowly to the camp. “ Say 
nothing about this affair to any one. Don’t even 
tell Father Marquette; some day we may find a 
solution to the riddle, for to me it is a riddle," 
were the last words of the leader. 

After supper the fire was extinguished and the 
camp moved farther down the river. Moussart 
asked to play upon his fiddle before retiring, and 
was somewhat angry because permission was re- 
fused. 

On the following morning, before the sun was 
visible over the treetops, the tents were struck 
and the canoes were ready. ‘‘ Gentlemen," said 
Father Marquette, as he was about to step into 


124 Wonderful Story Number Two 

his canoe, we have been reminded more than 
once that this expedition was undertaken in the 
name of religion. Thus far we have committed 
ourselves to the guidance of those who have trav- 
ersed the country through which we passed, but 
now we are to be our own guides. We need the 
protection of heaven. As it pleased God to take 
a virgin for His mother and thus to give Him- 
self to mankind, so has it pleased the same God 
to bestow favors upon mankind through this same 
Virgin Mother. From the beginning I placed 
this expedition under the special protection of the 
Immaculate Virgin Mother, and now, when the 
danger increases and the way becomes more ob- 
scure, we have more need of her guidance and 
protection. I wish, therefore, that you would 
join with me in reciting each morning the 
Memorare three times in honor of the Immaculate 
Mother.” 

Down upon the sand the voyagers knelt and 
prayed to Mary Immaculate, a practice which 


Wonderful Story Number Two 125 

they continued during the rest of the voyage. 
Then the canoes were pushed from the shore and 
were soon drifting rapidly down the swift current 
of the Meskousing. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


THE ISLAND BIVOUAC. 


^LL day long the canoes were carried rap- 
idly westward by the winding current of 
the Meskousing. It required a strong 
and experienced arm to prevent the crafts from 
being grounded upon the shore of the numerous 
islands, so that Pierre's dream of idly floating 
down the river soon vanished; and when night 
came on, he affirmed that he preferred the rowing 
on the lakes to the work of guiding the canoes 
down this shallow and treacherous water. 

I'm an old sinner if this isn’t the hardest day’s 
work I’ve done since we left the mission,” were 
his words when the leader gave the signal to land 
on a wooded island for the night. 

‘‘ And where was the work ? ” asked the priest, 
126 


The Island Bivouac 


127 

who with Joliet had occupied the same canoe as 
Pierre. ‘‘We simply drifted with the current.’’ 

“ But we couldn’t drift where the current did. 
It can hit a bank and then graze off again like a 
bullet from the bark of an oak tree; but if we 
hit the bank we stick there.” 

“ And do you think that the current is as swift 
and regular as it was, when we started this morn- 
ing? ” asked the priest. 

“ When Pierre has answered I’ll give my opin- 
ion, for I was just thinking about that very ques- 
tion,” interrupted Joliet. 

“Well, Pierre, what do you think?” pursued 
the Jesuit. 

“ Since Sieur Joliet has told us that he has 
been thinking about the matter, I’ll let him 
answer.” 

“ No, no; I want your opinion.” 

“ I never like to give my opinion about a place 
or thing until I’ve seen it several times.” 

“ Let me answer my own question,” put in the 


128 


The Island Bivouac 


priest. As you two did the work, Tve had time 
to make observations. It appears to me that the 
current has weakened considerably since noon. 
The banks are less abrupt and the forest-growth 
is thicker. I predict easier work to-morrow.” 

I agree with you, Father,” were the words of 
the leader. 

Pierre dropped his oar and turned upon Joliet. 
“ Ha, ha,” laughed he, “ now I understand why 
Fve been working so hard all day. The priest 
was making observations, and Joliet was helping 
him, and there was no one left to help poor 
Pierre.” 

The second canoe now drew near. You 
must cook supper to-night, Pierre, for I’m going 
with the boy to look for some leatherwood. You 
know the ropes on the tent broke last night,” said 
Lataupine. 

Nom d'un chien! ” exclaimed the cripple. 
‘‘ I’ve been doing two men’s work all day, and 
now I’m to cook supper,” He then explained to 


The Island Bivouac 129 

the rest of the company how the leader had con- 
fessed that he had been making observations in- 
stead of rowing. 

Joliet acknowledged that he had neglected his 
work, but claimed that it was unintentional, as he 
was so charmed with the landscape that he at 
times forgot to guide the canoe. 

With all his pretended complaint Pierre was 
only too glad to prepare the meal, as he could 
season and cook his favorite dish of sagamite to 
suit his own taste. Joliet and Marquette walked 
down the stream to examine the island, Lataupine 
and Paul rowed over to the mainland to find the 
leatherwood, Dorval and Moussart raised the 
tents, and Pierre began the work of cook. 

From a small box he took a handful of pul- 
verized cedar bark, which he placed on a dry 
stone. Kneeling over this, he held a flint and 
struck it with an iron bar, shielding his hand with 
a leather glove from the sparks which flew at 
each stroke. Gradually the bark was ignited 


The Island Bivouac 


130 

and when blown upon burst into flame. Par- 
ticles of wood were added, and soon a fire was 
burning beneath the iron kettle. Such a kettle 
was a luxury which few explorers or trappers had 
in those days, and Pierre insisted that the saga- 
mite cooked in it was not as wholesome as that 
made by the Indians, who boiled the water by 
throwing heated stones into a dish of bark or 
wood. Still it was far easier to use the kettle, 
and the cripple submitted to what he considered 
an unnecessary encroachment upon primitive 
ways. 

Into the boiling water he threw hunks of deer- 
meat mixed with fat. Then a quantity of corn 
meal was added, and the whole flavored with 
dried sage and a little salt. 

In the meanwhile, Lataupine and Paul were 
searching for the leatherwood; and as it did not 
grow in the damp soil along the river they were 
forced to penetrate into the forest farther than 
they were accustomed to go. 


The Island Bivouac 


131 

Keep near me/’ were the warning words, of 
Lataupine, for it will soon be dark/’ 

‘‘ I see a few bushes up above that rock/’ said 
Paul; “just wait until I examine them.” He 
pointed above a ledge of rocks which ran parallel 
with the river. 

“ Don’t go alone, boy.” 

“ I’m afraid that you will not be able to climb 
the rocks,” replied the boy. Grasping the scanty 
growth, and pressing his toes into the crevices, 
he began to mount up the steep ledge. 

Half way up he slipped, and to prevent himself 
from falling, leaped into the branch of a small 
tree, three feet from the rocks. “ A good jump,” 
exclaimed Lataupine. The tree, which was not 
sufficiently strong to sustain the weight, bent 
slowly to the ground, snapping in the center just 
as the lad was on his feet. “ What kind of wood 
is this?” he asked, as he brushed aside the 
branches which covered him in the fall. 

“ Ha, ha ! ” laughed his companion, “ you are 


The Island Bivouac 


132 

a fine woodman, a hunter, a coureur-de-bois, an 
explorer, and don’t know leatherwood from 
pine.” 

The largest leatherwood bush I ever saw,” 
was the reply. It is a real tree. You are an 
older hunter than I am, and why didn’t you see 
the leatherwood ? ” 

“ I confess, Paul, that I should have seen it, 
but like yourself I was looking for a bush and 
not a tree. You see we are getting into a strange 
country where bushes grow into trees. Had it 
been in the spring or fall, neither of us would 
have made the mistake. But get to work, and 
let us skin the tree before it is dark.” 

In the early spring, before the leaf appears, the • 
leatherwood is covered with clusters of light-yel- 
low, funnel-shaped flowers ; and in the fall it bears 
a reddish, oblong fruit by which it is distin- 
guished at a glance from the other undergrowth 
of the forest. The slender twigs of yellowish- 
green are easily broken, and even the thickest 


The Island Bivouac 


133 

limbs are not as strong as those of other wood; 
but the bark is so pliant and strong that it can be 
used for ropes, bow strings, and fishing lines, and 
makes excellent material for weaving baskets. 
The Indian and the trapper were skillful in ap- 
plying it to a variety of purposes. 

‘‘ Fooled again,^’ exclaimed Lataupine, as he 
threw down the bundle of bark near the blazing 
camp-fire. ‘‘ Fooled again, boy ; we have brought 
home some useless bark, not a particle of leather- 
wood about it.’" Lataupine felt humiliated at the 
mistake. 

“ Perhaps there is no such wood in this part of 
the country,” said Paul. 

‘‘ Well, if there is, Pll find it to-morrow ; and 
I’ll start to look for it before dark.” 

“ May I go with you ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, you can carry the bark to the camp; but 
I don’t need your assistance in finding it.” Paul 
whistled and Lataupine threw the bark into the 
fire. 


134 


The Island Bivouac 


After supper pipes were lighted. Moussart 
played upon his fiddle and Pierre recounted his 
experiences and told Indian legends. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


LATAUPINE SECURES THE LEATHERWOOD. 

remember, boy, you are to follow 
■ me, and carry this axe, and cut the wood 
when I find it; but you are to give no 
directions.” Such was the command of Latau- 
pine as he and Paul left the camp late in the 
afternoon of the following day. The lad was 
amused at the seriousness of the old trapper, who 
was still fretting under the humiliation of having 
brought some useless bark to the tents, thinking 
that it was leatherwood. 

On the two trudged in silence. The hunter or 
trapper will be engaged for hours without utter- 
ing a word ; the solitude of the forest, or the lone- 
liness of the prairie, or the stillness of the lake 
or stream, seems to overawe him and make him 

135 


136 Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 

pensive. But when the evening camp-fire is lit, 
he becomes talkative and hilarious. 

The gloom of evening came on quickly in the 
deep woods. Paul lost his bearings and more 
than once wished to ask his elder companion 
whether he was sure of finding his way back to 
the camp. He was quite certain, too, that Latau- 
pine had passed some leatherwood without recog- 
nizing it; but remembering the experience of the 
previous day, and the command of the hunter, he 
said nothing. 

“ These are fresher than I thought they’d be,” 
whispered Lataupine, pausing and pointing to 
some footprints near the margin of a small stream. 
‘‘ I’ve been following the tracks for half an hour.” 

“ I thought you were looking for leather- 
wood.” 

‘‘We passed a whole thicket of leatherwood, 
and there,” he continued, “ not twenty feet be- 
hind us is a whole cluster of them. We are not 
far from the camp and have gone almost in a 


Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 137 

circle. We can get all the bark we want in five 
minutes. But these tracks — evidently two In- 
dians passed this way since noon.” 

“ When did you first see the tracks? ” 

‘‘ I didn’t want to frighten you, my lad. You 
remember that I stopped shortly after we left 
the camp ? ” 

‘‘ On the hillside ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ I thought you were looking for the wood.” 

“ You are young, my lad, and inexperienced. 
There were evident signs of a fight there; deer, 
I thought, but now I see that they were Indians.” 
“ Do you think that they are friendly ? ” 

‘‘ Friendly or not, they must be miles away by 
this time. We must hurry back to the camp 
before it is too dark ; but first we’ll skin half a 
dozen of the trees.” 

Within a few minutes, each had a bundle of 
bark under his arm. 

“ Listen to that ! ” muttered Lataupine indig- 


13B Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 

nantly, as the sound of a rifle broke in upon the 
stillness. “ They fear that we are lost. Felix 
Lataupine has been in the woods too long for 
that. Do they wish to insult me? When I get 
back to the camp Fll let them know that I can 
find my way through any forest in New France.’' 
The speaker paused and placed his hand upon the 
shoulder of the boy. Something in the bushes 
moved there,” he whispered. 

And there was a noise,” replied Paul, holding 
his rifle in readiness. 

Perhaps it’s the deer wounded by the In- 
dians,” suggested the trapper. 

Or a bear,” put in the lad. 

‘‘ Evidently it is a bear,” assented the hunter, 
as a muffled growl came from the thick under- 
brush. ‘‘ Stay behind me, boy, but have your 
rifle ready.” Holding in his right hand the axe 
which he had brought to cut the leatherwood, 
Lataupine worked his way in the direction of the 
sound. On the ground before him he saw a 


Latmipine Secures the Leatherwood 139 

dark object. “ It’s a bear, boy. Get back in the 
clearing behind a large tree, for it’s wounded, 
and if it gets a hold of you it’ll tear you to 
pieces.” 

Paul needed no second warning, for he knew 
well the danger which one ran in meeting a 
wounded bear. 

Lataupine drew nearer to the dark object which 
was rolling in the bushes. He raised his axe to 
strike, but just as the fatal blow was about to 
fall, he recognized the form of an Indian. Closer 
investigation showed that the savage was bound 
hands and feet. 

Are you wounded? ” asked the Frenchman in 
the Ottawa language. 

No answer came. 

Are you wounded ? ” he repeated in Huron. 

Only a groan was heard. 

The Frenchman stooped and cut with his axe 
the thong of leatherwood which bound the In- 
dian’s feet. Then he slowly released the Indian’s 


140 Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 

hands, guarding himself against any sudden at- 
tack. 

Once free, the Indian leaped to his feet and 
darted like an affrighted deer into the clearing. 
“Watch out, he’s coming!” yelled the French- 
man to Paul. 

“ Must I shoot?” 

“ No.” 

Paul had his rifle raised as he saw the bushes 
part. The bear seemed to be standing on its hind 
legs, an evident sign that it intended to attack 
him. 

“ Must I — ” that was as far as the young 
huntsman got. He intended to ask again 
whether it was prudent for him to shoot the 
wounded animal; but he couldn’t finsh the sen- 
tence, so astonished was he to see an Indian leap 
from the bushes and as suddenly disappear in the 
dark forest. 

“That Indian was bound by the two whose 
footprints I saw near the creek,” said Lataupine, 


Lataupine Secures the Leatherwood 141 

coming to the boy. ‘‘ They seized him at the 
place where I thought the animals had been fight- 
ing, bound him and left him in this cluster of 
bushes.” 

Indians generally kill their prisoners,” replied 
Paul, recovering his power of speech. 

We are among strange tribes, my lad. But 
let us hurry on to the camp and tell them to stop 
that cussed shooting, or they will have a whole 
village of savages here to-night.” 

There was some consternation in the camp 
when Lataupine related what had happened. Sup- 
per was hastily eaten, the fire extinguished, and 
the two canoes were for an hour moored in the 
middle of the stream. The party then quietly 
landed on an island, and pitched their tents. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

A BEAR WITHOUT ITS SKIN. 


^BOUT an hour after the party had retired, 
** there was a wild yell in front of the tents. 

Each jumped to his feet and grasped his 
rifle. There in front of the tents stood the crip- 
ple holding in his hands a large bear skin. 

Mille tonnerres! mille townerres! he cried. 
“ I caught the bear and its skin came off and the 
bear ran away. What, what did I say ? I 
caught the bear and its skin came off ! I must be 
mad! I must be crazy! You will not believe 
me! I scarcely believe myself. The bear was 
making the devil marks around the camp. It 
must have been the devil! I must be crazy! I 
must be mad ! ” 


142 


A Bear Without Its Skin 143 

Let us see the skin,” said the priest, trying 
to quiet the cripple. 

The bear is gone now, don’t be afraid of him. 
We’ll help you,” were the reassuring words of 
the leader. 

‘‘ That skin has been in the bottom of our 
canoe since the time we left the mission,” affirmed 
Dorval in a low voice to the leader. 

‘‘ Yes, yes, his imagination has driven him 
crazy.” 

“ He has made those marks around the camp,” 
continued Dorval. 

He has always been such a sensible man ; his 
rheumatism must have affected his mind,” added 
Sieur Joliet. 

'‘Am I crazy? Was that the devil? And 
how did his skin come off in my hands ? I must 
be mad ! ” 

With difficulty Father Marquette quieted the 
cripple, as the two seated themselves upon a log 
near the tents. 


144 ^ Bear Without Its Skin 

In the meanwhile, the other four men were ex- 
amining the skin. Dorval was confident that it 
had not only been in the canoe during the whole 
of the voyage, but that he had frequently slept 
upon it; the others did not think that so large a 
skin had been brought on the expedition. Pierre, 
they believed, had procured the skin from the In- 
dians at the last village, and had concealed it 
among the baggage. There was no explanation 
for his actions; all agreed that he had lost his 
mind. 

As leader of the expedition, Joliet knew 
not what to do with the demented man. Would 
it be better to send him back to the Indian vil- 
lage and leave him there until the party returned, 
or was it safe to keep him as a member of the 
party, even though he could render no assistance ? 

When Pierre had been quieted and sent to rest, 
and the others had retired, Joliet sought the ad- 
vice of Father Marquette. 


A Bear Without Its Skin 145 

‘‘ Do you think the poor fellow is crazy ? ’’ 
asked the leader. 

“ I fear he is.'’ 

And what could have brought on the 
trouble ? ” 

‘‘ I have one explanation. Years ago when 
he was hunting with Frangois, and the latter by 
his music attracted the attention of the Iroquois, 
you know that several of the hunters were scalped. 
You know how he objeqted to the violin, and 
when we consented to Frangois bringing it Pierre 
believed firmly that it would bring death to all 
of us. It may have been this fear of another 
attack that worked upon his imagination.” 

He certainly objected to the music,” replied 
Joliet; but how could this have turned his mind 
to bears and magic circles.” 

“ Insanity follows no laws ; besides I am not 
sure of my theory.” 

“ Would you advise me to send him back to 


146 A Bear Without Its Skin 

the Indian village or ought we to keep him with 
us?’’ 

If you sent him back, would the rest of the 
party wait here until those who accompanied him 
returned ? ” 

“ I did not decide upon that.” 

And would you send him to the Indians to 
remain there, or would they bring him to our 
mission ? ” 

It would be cruel to leave him with the In- 
dians until we returned ; for in his state he would 
certainly be neglected by them and suffer from 
want.” 

‘‘We certainly cannot wait here until two or 
more take the poor man to the mission at the 
strait and return, for if we did, winter would 
overtake us before we could explore or even find 
the great river.” 

“ Do you think, Father, that he will be harm- 
less? ” 

“ I think he will ; he may improve, too, and 


A Bear Without Its Skin 147 

even entirely recover. His trouble may be but 
temporary. Let us trust in Providence, which 
has thus far guided us, and which, I believe, will 
bring us in safety, and all with us, to the object of 
our desires.” 

On the following morning no one mentioned 
the events of the previous night. Pierre seemed 
but little disturbed. Occasionally he would de- 
clare that he would yet capture the bear which 
made the marks. As he was not permitted to row, 
he slept during the greater part of the day, and 
on the following night again disturbed the party 
by cries of alarm, and boldly asserted that he had 
seen the bear running up to the camp to draw the 
magic circles. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


THE VISION OF THE BEAR. 

F or seven days the explorers drifted down 
the current of the Meskousing. For seven 
days the scenes were monotonous and un- 
varied. The current did not grow sluggish, nor 
the high banks disappear, as the missionary had 
predicted. No new variety of trees or flowers 
were observed, nor did a new species of animal 
appear. The party, ever on the lookout for the 
strange and marvelous, grew tired of the ever re- 
peated landscape. 

Perhaps the condition of Pierre had served to 
throw a gloom over the voyagers; for the crip- 
ple seemed to suffer from some wild hallucination, 
and at night to behold the strangest visions of 
bears and demons. Joliet humored him by de- 
148 


The Vision of the Bear 149 

daring that his services as watchman were neces- 
sary for the safety of the party, and that, as a 
consequence, he would have to rest and sleep dur- 
ing the day, so as to be able to be on duty during 
the entire night. He was instructed that it 
would not be necessary to give the alarm when 
the bear came at night to draw the magic circle ; 
he was only to watch closely and keep the animal 
from entering the tents. 

The cripple obeyed orders strictly, and during 
the rest of the voyage did not disturb the sleep- 
ers. But each morning he had a most remark- 
able story to tell about the nightly visitor, which 
came regularly, but in different disguises and 
attitudes. Sometimes the bear walked on its 
four legs and sometimes it stood erect; it even 
ventured out at night without its skin, or ap- 
peared in the form of an Indian. Every mem- 
ber of the party pretended to believe the wonder- 
ful accounts, and tried earnestly to impress Pierre 
with the importance of his work, the careful per- 


150 The Vision of the Bear 

formance of which would protect them from all 
danger. 

About noon of the seventh day since the canoes 
had been launched upon the Meskousing, a heavy 
dark cloud appeared over the horizon to the west. 
It was not accompanied by strong winds, and 
yet it seemed to spread rapidly and to envelop the 
river in a heavy mist. To the left of the stream 
the bank seemed gradually to rise to twice its 
ordinary height, while to the right appeared 
swamps, covered with scattered patches of wil- 
lows ; directly in front there could be seen another 
ridge or bank of the river, so that all were puzzled 
to know in what direction the current would turn, 
or how it would find its way through the hills 
which seemed to hem them in on two sides. 

And now a strong wind came over the hill in 
front and made the tree tops dance and gathered 
choppy waves around the canoes. 

Both canoes pull for the left ! ’’ cried the 
leader. 


The Vision of the Bear 151 

‘‘ No! no! to the right,” came the loud voice of 
Lataupine. 

Better to turn back, for we have drifted out 
into a lake, and perhaps we’ll not be able to find 
the shore on either side,” were the warning words 
of Dorvah 

‘‘We are not in a lake,” argued Joliet; “we 
have simply drifted out of the current.” 

“ Pardon me ! ” was the reply of Dorval, “ but 
the water is entirely quiet around us except for 
the waves.” 

“ The waves are coming up stream and block- 
ing the current,” argued Lataupine. 

The wind was growing stronger, the mist was 
thicker and the waves were mounting so high that 
the canoes were in the greatest danger of cap- 
sizing. 

“ To the right ! ” again ordered the leader. 

“ You are going to the left bank,” affirmed 
Lataupine. 

“ How is that ? ” 


152 The Vision of the Bear 

The canoes have been turned completely 
around since we began to talk.” 

I do not believe it.” 

“ Believe it or not ; but don’t you see that the 
waves are beating against the stern of the canoe, 
while but a second ago they were at the prow ? ” 

Neither bank could now be seen, and the sun 
was so completely obscured that no one could dis- 
tinguish the east from the west. It rained in 
torrents, and the wind grew stronger and carried 
the waves over the sides of the fragile canoes. 

Row, row ! Row for the shore in any direc- 
tion,” came the orders of Joliet. 

'^No! not in any direction,” remonstrated 
Lataupine, “ turn the prows toward the wind and 
row on.” 

‘‘ And how do you know this will bring us to 
the bank?” 

‘‘ I don’t know, but it will keep us from cap- 
sizing until the storm has passed away.” 

“ But we must reach the shore.” 


153 


The Vision of the Bear 

‘‘ Where is the shore ? ’’ 

“ I tell you, we are in a lake and may be a half 
a mile from the shore by this time,” again asserted 
Dorval. 

Prows toward the wind,” cried Lataupine. 

‘‘ Here are willows and the shore to the left ; ” 
with these words Joliet tried to turn the canoe. 
But as he did so it was all but swamped by a wave. 

You have lost your senses and become a 
fool,” declared Lataupine. Do not turn the 
prow or we’ll all be drowned.” 

Before the leader could answer, the willows 
had been lost from view. During the excitement 
the missionary did not utter a word. He did not 
know what advice to give. The storm had come 
so suddenly and treacherously that he was taken 
unawares. Joliet seemed right in wishing to 
reach the shore as soon as possible, and on the 
other hand Lataupine’s advice to turn the prow 
of the canoes toward the wind and the waves was 
but common sense. Never before had the mis- 


154 Vision of the Bear 

sionary seen Joliet so excited ; yet he did not think 
it prudent to contradict his command. The 
Jesuit sat quietly waiting for those who were 
more skilled in handling a canoe to rescue the 
party from danger. 

Pierre was awakened by the noise. ‘‘ Look ! 
look ! ” he cried, “ the bear ! the bear ! He has 
been turned into an Indian. See his claws! the 
bear ! the bear I ’’ 

As he screamed the words, an Indian canoe 
shot by the voyagers. It seemed to be carried 
by an invisible power. In it was an Indian stand- 
ing erect and waving in his hands a bunch of 
bear-claws. When he passed the second canoe, 
the savage yelled, and diving into the water was 
seen no more. A peal of thunder rolled along a 
hillside which appeared above the mist in front 
of the canoe. The canoe, too, vanished in the 
mist, which was yet unbroken just above the 
water. 

Before the explorers could recover from their 


The Vision of the Bear 155 

surprise the smaller canoe, in which were Joliet, 
Paul, and the missionary, was caught by a cur- 
rent and whirled around and then carried rapidly 
away; the larger canoe was caught by the same 
current and was immediately swept along toward 
the first. 

‘‘ There are rapids ahead of us,” called out 
Joliet. 

“ Yes, yes,” came the voice of Lataupine from 
the other canoe. 

“ And there may be falls below,” were the 
warning words of Dorval. 

‘‘ Out from the current,” was the order of the 
leader. 

‘‘To which side?” asked Lataupine. 

“ To the right.” 

The oars worked as if in a battle against death, 
but the current grew stronger and the light 
canoes were whirled along. Lataupine and 
Joliet had both seen the falls at the outlet of Lake 
Erie, and pictured to themselves a like cataract 


156 The Vision of the Bear 

to which they were being drawn. The priest 
prayed in silence, Paul felt his heart beat fast and 
he unconsciously grasped the side of the canoe; 
the men worked with redoubled energy at the 
oars. 

Suddenly there was a rift in the clouds; the 
mist rose. Far to the right and to the left ap- 
peared wooded banks. There was a burst of joy 
and triumph from the explorers. Their canoes 
were sailing down the broad, swift current of the 
great river of the New World — the Mit-chi-sipi 
was discovered. 

Father Marquette offered a prayer of thanks- 
giving. Then, extending his hands over the 
water, the priest said in slow and solemn words : 

This river I call the River of the Immaculate 
Conception, in honor of Mary ever Virgin, the 
Immaculate Mother of God.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


ON THE WIDE TIDE. 

lY/HERE the Wisconsin empties into the Mis- 
■■ sissippi, its own waters are entirely 
checked by the stronger and wider tide 
of the larger stream, and form a basin with an 
eddy, in which a log or canoe will float for days, 
until by chance it is caught by the outer edge of 
the current. Into this eddy the canoes of the dis- 
coverers had floated just when the mist enveloped 
the river. The current was reversed, but was so 
feeble that its force was lost before the strong 
wind which accompanied the storm. The banks 
had disappeared, the canoes were threatened with 
submersion, and no one knew where to seek for 
shelter. It was in the midst of the excitement 
which followed that the canoes were caught by 
the current of the Mississippi, and were whirled 

157 


158 On the Wide Tide 

southward, before the storm-mist floated away 
and revealed the wooded banks. 

Have you any explanation to offer in regard 
to the mysterious appearance of that Indian ? ’’ 
asked the priest of Joliet, as their canoe sailed 
on. 

“ I was thinking of the Indian,’' was the re- 
ply, but the speaker did not turn his gaze from 
the great ragged bluffs, which rose somber and 
tree-topped to the height of four hundred feet. 

“ Then what is your answer? ” 

“ It is his disappearance and not his appear- 
ance that puzzles me.” 

Why did he approach us ? ” asked the priest. 

‘‘ Do you remember. Father, how often the In- 
dian at the mission spoke of the demon which 
guarded this river ? ” 

“ Certainly.” 

“ And you recall that every tribe living along 
the lakes had the same story to tell about the 
demon ? ” 


On the Wide Tide 


159 


Yes.” 

‘‘ Who could have started this strange rumor ? ” 
There is no accounting for Indian legends.” 
I believe I can explain the origin of this one,” 
continued Joliet; ‘‘and if my theory is correct, 
we are in danger of an attack at any moment. 
Keep a sharp lookout ! ” he cried to Lataupine, 
and those in the other canoe. “ I say I have a 
theory about this legend,” he resumed. “ The 
Indians who dwell along this great river have 
heard of the fierce Iroquois and the other tribes 
of the east, and do not wish to be molested by 
them. For this reason they have invented the 
story of the demon and have deceived the other 
tribes, and by so doing have prevented them from 
penetrating westward. You remember how 
frightened the Miami were at the very mention 
of the name of the great river. No power on 
earth could induce one of them to accompany us. 
Now these Indians keep a sentinel at the mouth 
of the Meskousing to warn them of the approach 


i6o 


On the Wide Tide 


of strangers, who are immediately destroyed, and 
so the story of the demon is confirmed; for the 
other tribes believe that their friends have been 
devoured by the monster.” 

‘‘ Then the Indian whom we saw was a sen- 
tinel,” interposed the priest. 

“ Certainly. Like ourselves he was surprised 
by the storm and the mist and could not find his 
way. He probably saw us approaching, but be- 
fore he could escape the mist settled down upon 
the river. He lost his bearings and ran up close 
to us.” 

But why was he standing in his canoe, and 
how was it propelled ? ” 

He was evidently rowing rapidly, and when 
he leaped to his feet, the canoe had sufficient im- 
petus to carry it beyond us,” was the explanation 
offered by the leader. 

But the claws,” objected the priest. “ I know 
that many tribes keep them for incantations; 
however, it seemed strange that he should use 


On the Wide Tide i6i 

them under such circumstances, and that he 
should hold them aloft as he passed us.” 

He may have carried them as a protection ; 
it is difficult to account for many of their super- 
stitious practices,’’ was the reply. 

“ And why did he leap from the canoe ? ” asked 
the Jesuit, who, although versed in Indian cus- 
toms, was puzzled at the action of this guardian 
of the great river. 

“ Now that I have undertaken to explain diffi- 
culties and mysteries. I’ll venture on a solution 
of this problem. I think that Indian was un- 
armed. It was his duty to act in a mysterious 
way on the approach of a stranger, and then to 
notify the tribe. Being without means of pro- 
tection he probably dived into the water to escape 
our rifles. He evidently swam along with his 
canoe, keeping it between himself and us.” 

“ That I can readily conceive,” acknowledged 
the priest ; ‘‘ it is an old trick in Indian warfare. 
Possibly your explanations are correct. If they 


On the Wide Tide 


162 

are, we shall be in constant danger of an attack. 
Our taking possession of the great river was 
truly accompanied by the marvelous — the whole 
land enveloped in mist, the rain, the thunder- 
storm, the strange appearance of an Indian, the 
guardian of the land of wonders.’’ 

Those who occupied the other canoe were also 
discussing the matter referred to above, and were 
seeking for an explanation of the facts as they 
had witnessed them. 

The party felt in comparative security, as the 
river was m^ore than a mile in width, rendering 
surprise impossible. 

Lataupine took a rope of leatherwood and, at- 
taching an anchor to it, began to measure the 
depth of the water. Down, down went the rope, 
but the bottom of the river was not reached. 
More rope was added, but again the attempt was 
unsuccessful. 

Hold ! ” cried he to the canoe in front of 


him. 


On the Wide Tide 163 

At the words Joliet grasped his flintlock. On 
which side are they? ’’ he asked. 

‘‘We see no one, but want to borrow all your 
rope to find out the depth of the stream.” 

“You frightened us,” replied the priest. 

“We are too far away from the land to fear 
any danger at present,” were the assuring words 
of Dorval. 

All the rope in the two canoes was tied to- 
gether, and to the surprise of the party the water 
was fifty feet deep. 

The river was flanked on either side by bluffs so 
high that Marquette called them mountains; at 
times they were bare and rocky cliffs, reaching 
down to the brink of the water; again they were 
clothed with foliage and ferns. 

While all were admiring the beauty of the 
scene, the smaller canoe was struck by some ob- 
ject that made it dance and tremble in the cur- 
rent. All were much surprised at the occur- 


rence. 


164 


On the Wide Tide 


“ That could not have been the trunk of a 
tree,” said Sieur Joliet. 

'' Nor a sand bank, for the water is too deep,” 
replied the priest. 

“ I see it I I see it ! ” cried out Paul, ‘‘ it’s a 
fish as large as a man. It has no scales.” Paul 
was all excitement and even Pierre was aroused 
by his explanations. 

“ Why, Paul, you have had the honor of dis- 
covering the great demon — the guardian of the 
Mit-chi-sipi,” affirmed Sieur Joliet. 

Well, if he is afraid of us, and disappears be- 
fore we can all see him, he can not be very dan- 
gerous,” said the priest. 

There, there ! ” called out Moussart. All 
looked eagerly in the direction indicated. 

“ I see it ! ” cried the boy. 

And I, and I,” came the chorus. 

The party was gazing upon a huge catfish, 
about six feet in length. It was not the last they 


On the Wide Tide 165 

were to see, for catfish served them for many a 
meal during the rest of the voyage. 

Later on in the day another alarm was given. 

“ There’s another large fish ! ” Moussart cried. 

‘‘ There’s the monster ! ” shouted Lataupine. 

“ It’s a tiger,” replied Dorval. 

‘‘ No, a fish ! ” claimed the first. 

‘‘ It’s only a wild cat,” said Pierre, catching 
sight of the animal, which now came in view of 
both canoes. 

That night Father Marquette wrote the fol- 
lowing notes in his birch-bark diary : “We came 
upon a monstrous fish which struck our canoe 
with such violence that I thought it was a great 
tree about to break the canoe to pieces. On an- 
other occasion we saw on the water a monster 
with the head of a tiger, a sharp nose like that of 
a wildcat, with whiskers and straight erect ears. 
The head was gray and the neck quite black. 
But we saw no more creatures of this sort. When 


On the Wide Tide 


1 66 

we cast out nets into the water we caught stur- 
geon and a very extraordinary kind of fish. It 
resembles the trout, with this exception — that its 
mouth is larger. Near its nose is a large bone, 
shaped like a woman’s corset-bone, three inches 
wide and a cubit long, at the end of which is a 
disk as wide as one’s hand. This frequently 
causes it to fall backward when it leaps out of the 
water.” 

‘‘ You have talked so little of late, and to-day 
you have scarcely uttered a word,” remarked 
Sieur Joliet to Paul late that afternoon, as the 
canoe swept around a great curve of the river. 

Oh ! monsieur, it is all so beautiful ; how glad 
I am to be with you and Father Marquette.” 

“ I myself, Paul, am happy to be a member of 
this expedition, and especially proud to be the 
representative of the government of New France. 
You little know what is the importance of the dis- 
covery we have made. It is beautiful! It is 
magnificent! It is sublime! Here is the work 


On the Wide Tide 167 

of God untouched by the hand of man. We are 
sailing upon what is perhaps the largest river 
in the world. The Saint Lawrence may be as 
wide in places, but it has not the depth of this 
river, nor is it as grand a stream. I believe that 
this river drains a continent larger than Europe. 
Populous cities will rise along these banks, fac- 
tories will utilize the water-power, heavily laden 
boats will sail these waters, and we shall go down 
in history as the discoverers of the great river of 
the new world.’^ 

“ You are forgetting one important event in 
your glorious predictions of the future, mon- 
sieur,’’ gently interrupted the Jesuit; ‘‘what of 
the Christian communities which will spring up 
here — the Indians, the French! What of the 
churches and schools ! When your heavily laden 
boats plow these waters, the first sight to meet the 
sailors will be the crosses high above the 
churches.” 

“ Certainly, Father, that was understood in my 


On the Wide Tide 


i68 

prediction of the glorious future of New France; 
for wherever the Fleur-de-Lis is raised there you 
will find the Cross of Christ.” 

As evening drew on, Moussart played upon his 
violin — soft, dreamy music which was just heard 
above the whisper of the winds and the swish of 
the water against the sides of the canoes. 

The party landed upon a small island for sup- 
per, after which the fire was extinguished and 
the canoes moored some distance from the shore. 
Here the tired voyagers slept, Pierre as usual 
keeping guard throughout the night. 

Well, Pierre,” said the leader on the follow- 
ing morning, I do not see any marks of bear 
claws around the camp.” 

But I saw the bear,” was the reply of the 
cripple. He appeared above the water right 
there,” he continued, pointing to the side of the 
canoe. “ He may have come from the bottom of 
the river, but that's where I saw him. When 
he was just below the canoes, he suddenly turned 


On the Wide Tide 169 

into an Indian — looked something like the In- 
dian who passed us at the mouth of the Meskous- 
ing, yesterday. He made a circle around the 
canoes and disappeared.” 

‘‘ Poor old trapper, he has gone stark mad,” 
muttered the leader. 


CHAPTER XXL 


FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. 

Q TIDING between shores darkened by foli- 
age, with giant sycamores overhanging 
the water, — past glinting sand-banks and 
entangled heaps of drift-wood, among numer- 
ous islands, green with patches of willow and 
fragrant with odors of the wild grape-vine, — 
day after day the voyagers drifted down the 
Mississippi. It was an easy task to guide the 
canoes in the broad current. At times, too, sails 
were raised. But the men suffered from thirst; 
for the warm, murky water of the river did not 
satisfy their cravings. The canoes were often 
brought to the water’s edge, on the west shore 
where springs were abundant, but were imme- 
diately paddled out into the current again to avoid 
any surprise of hostile Indians. Father Mar- 
170 


Friends and Enemies 


171 

quette, Sieur Joliet, and Paul were generally in 
the small canoe. 

‘‘ Footprints, footprints,’' called out the priest 
one day, as the canoe came within a few feet of 
the bank. 

“ Not so loud. Father,” whispered the cautious 
leader. “ Well,” he continued, as he caught hold 
of some grape-vines hanging from a sycamore 
tree and pulled the craft close to the footprints, 
“ there is no danger, for the tracks are many days 
old.” 

Would it not be well to follow the tracks ? ” 
asked the priest. 

‘‘We have come to discover the great river and 
visit the savages along its shore,” was the reply 
of the leader. There is some risk and we don’t 
know how far the tracks will lead us. Still I 
think that we should not lose this occasion of vis- 
iting the Indians.” 

“ It will be useless to expose the lives of the 
entire party,” said the Jesuit. My cassock will 


Friends and Enemies 


172 

be a protection for me, and I think that you will 
be safe as my companion.” 

There is a narrow path leading to the river,” 
reported the leader, who left the canoe and 
walked some distance along the shore. Come,” 
said he to Father Marquette, “ let us start at once. 
Push out into the stream,” were his orders to 
those who were to remain with the canoes. 
‘‘ Anchor at some distance from the shore to 
avoid a surprise.” 

Parbleu! ” protested Pierre; you should not 
expose your lives. Let a worthless old fool like 
myself go, and if I am killed Idl not be missed; 
but if you two are killed what will become of 
us?” 

‘‘ The leader should always set the example 
and take the most dangerous place,” answered 
Joliet. 

Providence will watch over the mission- 
ary,” were the gentle, assuring words of the 
priest. 


Friends and Enemies 


173 

Walking silently up the narrow path and 
through a strip of woods which skirted the river, 
the two Frenchmen found themselves upon the 
edge of a vast prairie which stretched to the west. 
They had not gone more than two miles when 
they discovered a village on the bank of a small 
stream, and two others on a hill about half a mile 
from the first. 

“ There,” said Joliet, are the long sought-for 
tribes on the banks of the great river.” 

‘‘ Yes, we have found the river, and the tribes 
whom I have so long wished to instruct.” 

‘‘ Shall we walk into their village without a 
word of warning? ” asked the leader. 

I am at a loss to know what Indian etiquette 
requires; I think we should rather consider the 
safest way of making our entrance in the midst of 
these strange people.” 

After some deliberation the two shouted at the 
village with all their energy. At first a few In- 
dians were attracted by the noise, then the whole 


Friends and Enemies 


174 

village was aroused, and four of the principal men 
of the tribe came forward to meet the strangers. 
They carried tobacco pipes with long stems, orna- 
mented with feathers, and advancing with slow 
and dignified movements held the pipes aloft to 
the sun. The two visitors were conducted to the 
tent of the chief, who received them in a friendly 
way and, presenting the pipe of peace, addressed 
them in these words : “ How beautiful is the 

sun, O Frenchmen! when you come to visit us; 
all our towns await you, and you shall enter our 
cabins in peace ; never has the earth been so beau- 
tiful, nor the sun so bright as to-day; never has 
the river been so calm nor so free from rocks 
which your canoes have removed as they passed; 
never has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our 
corn appeared so beautiful as we beheld it to-day. 
I pray thee, Black-robe, take pity on me and my 
nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who 
made us all; thou speakest to Him and hearest 
His word; ask Him to give us life and health, 


Friends and Enemies 


I7S 

and come and dwell with us that we may know 
Him/’ 

Into a cabin made of reeds woven together by 
means of cords spun from buffalo hair, the vis- 
itors were then conducted. A great feast was 
prepared, in which the Frenchmen were fed like 
little children r with wooden spoons. During this 
feast they conferred with each other about the ad- 
visability of sending for the other members of the 
expedition, and, concluding that there was no 
danger, they made known their wish to the chief, 
who with the entire tribe followed them to the 
shore. 

On the way to the river, Joliet observed that 
there were two strangers in the crowd. 

‘‘ Have you noticed those Indians ? ” asked he 
of the missionary, pointing at the same time to- 
ward two savages who were conversing by means 
of signs to the young braves of the Illinois. 

“ Are they painted darker than the rest ? ” 
Yes.” 


176 


Friends and Enemies 


And look like the pagan Hurons ? ” 

‘‘ Exactly/’ 

What could have brought them here ? ” 
That is what I should like to know. But lis- 
ten, Father, those Indians have come to-day. 
Just watch the small children. Why, those Hu- 
rons are as much objects of curiosity as our- 
selves. And see the young braves ! how curious 
they are. I do not like the appearance of those 
two strangers.” 

‘‘ They are Hurons — pagan Hurons. What 
could have brought them here ? ” again asked the 
missionary. 

“We must be cautious. Father, very cautious.” 

“Providence has protected us, my child; still 
we must not neglect the ordinary means of pru- 
dence. ” 

“ No, Father; I will tell Dorval what we have 
observed; and when you speak to the tribe to- 
night about religion I’ll keep a close lookout.” 


CHAPTER XXIL 


HOW THE COUNCIL ENDED. 

voyagers were astonished to see their 
" two friends leading to the river a whole 
village of savages. Returning to the 
shore, which they had left at the sound of voices, 
they were escorted to the village and forced to 
visit each of the three hundred cabins. A speaker 
went before announcing their coming; groups of 
children gathered around them, then ran forward, 
rolled upon the grass, and returned to view the 
pale-faces. 

Joliet seized the first opportunity to inform 
Dorval of the presence of the Hurons. 

‘‘ I know them ; I know them,” whispered Dor- 
val when he had watched them carefully for some 
time. “ We are in the greatest danger. We 
must slip away to our canoes as soon as possible. 
177 


iy8 How the Council Ended 

Those Indians are from the mission and have fol- 
lowed us” 

“ Strange.” 

“ Strange it is to me.” 

‘‘ If they came to hurt us they had many 
chances to do so,” replied the leader. 

‘‘ That is true. I only know that I saw them ; 
they spent the winter with us at the mission and 
they were there a few days before we left. They 
are the tools of Poison Arrow. I tell you, mon- 
sieur, we are in danger.” 

“ They know you then.” 

“ Certainly, monsieur, they know all of us.” 

‘‘If they came to kill us or to prevent the suc- 
cess of our expedition, again I ask, why did they 
not do so long ago ? ” 

“ I cannot explain it ; but several things have 
happened which I cannot explain. Perhaps 
many more will happen which no one can ex- 
plain. But, monsieur, I repeat it, we are in 
danger.” 


How the Council Ended 179 

They do not seem to think that we know of 
their presence,” said Joliet. 

“ No, monsieur, and this is our only hope of 
escape.” 

During this conversation the visitors were be- 
ing lead from one cabin to another, receiving at 
each stop some gift, generally a belt made of the 
hair of buffalo and dyed red or yellow. In re- 
turn the Indians were presented with beads and 
pictures. At times the two strange Indians ap- 
proached the visitors but generally remained be- 
hind them. 

In the evening the chief called the entire tribe 
to listen to the Black-robe speak of the Great 
Spirit. “ Black-robe,” said he, ‘‘ friend of the 
Great Spirit, here are my people. Come and tell 
us what we are to do to be friends of the Spirit 
who made us and who will punish us if we do not 
listen to His words. Some of our warriors have 
not come to listen to you to-night ; they would not 
hearken to the words of their chief, and I hope 


i8o How the Council Ended 

that the Great Spirit will punish them. But they 
are the young warriors and are foolish ; but when 
they become old they, too, will listen to the words 
of the Black-robe. Come and speak to us.’^ 

“ Leave this to me,” whispered Dorval as he 
crept away from the assembly. In the midst of 
the excited crowd and the gathering darkness no 
one noticed the departure of the Frenchman. 

Watching the direction which two of the young 
savages had taken on leaving the village, Dorval 
followed them at a distance. Coming to a little 
valley, he caught a glimpse of the place where the 
Indians were assembled, and on approaching 
closer saw a sight that would have appalled the 
strongest heart. Around the fire some twenty 
savages were dancing and smearing themselves 
with red paint. Many of the braves carried 
scalps taken in former battles. They cut deep 
gashes in their hands, arms, and breasts, and let 
the blood flow over the hideous trophies. 

Then one of the Huron visitors harangued the 


How the Council Ended i8i 

crowd, while an Illinois, who had been taken as 
a prisoner by the tribe and who knew the Huron 
language, acted as interpreter. ‘‘ Brothers,” said 
the orator, ‘‘ listen to me, listen to two of us, for 
we have been sent to you by our chief. Poison 
Arrow. Many years ago the Black-robe came 
and taught us to adore the Great Spirit of the 
pale-faces. We believed his words and our whole 
nation was cursed by the Great Bear of the 
Hurons. He sent the Iroquois to burn our towns. 
Hundreds of our brave warriors were killed. We 
were driven from our villages. Our villages 
were burned. The bears left the woods and we 
had nothing to eat ; our corn did not grow. The 
pale-faces came and took our lands. And now 
the pale-faces have come to kill you and take your 
land, and corn, and buffalo robes. Poison Arrow 
seat us to kill the pale-faces before they reached 
your country. But the Great Spirit protected 
them. Every night he drew a circle around their 
camp. We saw him come down in the darkness 


1 82 How the Council Ended 

of the evening to draw a circle when the pale- 
faces slept in their canoes. Every night we came 
to the camp ; but every night we found the circle. 
Now we cannot hurt any one when his cabin is 
marked around with the claws of the bearo But 
to-night the strangers will stay with you and in 
the cabin of your chief, and the Great Spirit will 
not come to draw the circle with the claws of the 
bear, and we will kill the pale-faces. Only help 
us, brothers, and give us the scalps that we may 
take them back to our own country and give them 
to Poison Arrow. Or, if the Great Spirit comes 
to draw the circles you kill them, for your religion 
does not forbid you to kill those who are pro- 
tected by the circle. The pale-faces have with 
them many beautiful things. They have two 
canoes swifter than those you build; with these 
canoes you can pursue your enemies and over- 
take them. All that we ask are the scalps of the 
pale-faces to take back to Poison Arrow, to show 
him that we killed the enemies of our race.’’ 


How the Council Ended 183 

The young Illinois listened in silence to this 
speech. At the close of the speaker’s words a 
sound was heard overhead, — the shaking of bear 
claws. Then the branches of the trees bent and 
from the tree dropped a figure in the midst 
of the astonished Indians. This figure was 
wrapped in the skin of a bear, and in his right 
hand he held a string of bear toes. With quick 
movements he drew a circle around the crowd 
before the Indians realized what had happened, 
then dangling the claws in the air disappeared 
in the dark forest. 

The two Huron Indians uttered a wild cry of 
despair. “ Run, brothers,” they cried. You 
see the Great Spirit of the pale-faces is stronger 
than we are. Run, run; but go not back to 
your camp cabins to-night, for you will all be 
killed ! ” They, too, dashed into the woods ut- 
tering hideous cries and were followed by the 
frightened Illinois. 

Dorval stood for a moment as one petrified. 


184 How the Council Ended 

The blood in his veins seemed to stop. Finally 
he wiped the perspiration from his face and 
walked rapidly toward the Illinois' village. 


CHAPTER XXIIL 


THE PIPE OF PEACE. 

O N returning to the village, Dorval narrated 
to Joliet what he had witnessed, but did 
not inform the rest of the party. He 
and the leader concluded that there was no dan- 
ger of an attack at night, for the superstitious 
savages would not dare injure the visitors after 
the words of warning of the two Hurons. Still, 
at their request, the chief ordered several of the 
elder warriors of the village to keep guard during 
the night. 

Before departing on the following morning 
the Frenchmen witnessed the calumet dance so 
famous in Indian annals. In an open space in 
front of the chiefs cabin were spread numerous 
mats of rushes. On the largest of these mats, 
which was richly colored, was placed the figure 

185 


1 86 The Pipe of Peace 

of a fish, the Manitou of the Illinois Indian. In 
front of the fish was hung a large calumet, or 
pipe of peace, made of red polished stone. As 
the Indians approached the place they first sa- 
luted the Manitou by inhaling the smoke from 
the pipe and blowing it at the figure of the fish. 
Lastly came the dancer carrying a pipe with a 
long stem richly ornamented with feathers. He 
first raised the calumet to the sun, then inclined 
it to the earth, then as he moved to the sound 
of the music he presented the pipe to the different 
spectators to smoke. At the conclusion of the 
dance, the chief took the calumet and handing it 
to Father Marquette spoke as follows: 

“ Black-robe, you still have many miles to sail 
down the great river; you will meet many tribes 
who have sharp and poisonous arrows. You 
will often be in danger. Take this pipe of peace ; 
it will protect you. When your enemies see it 
they will throw away their arrows and will be- 
come your friends.’^ 


T^ie Pipe of Peace 187 

The whole village accompanied the Frenchmen 
to the river, gave them provisions and assisted 
them in embarking. Father Marquette prom- 
ised to return to the tribe later and instruct them. 

‘‘ We have escaped many dangers,” began 
Dorval, who had taken Paul’s place in the smaller 
canoe with Father Marquette and Sieur Joliet, 
“ but this was the greatest danger of all.” 

“ I thought the Indians most friendly,” said 
the missionary. 

‘‘ They were,” replied Joliet j “ with the excep- 
tion of the two Hurons whom we saw in the 
crowd last evening.” 

I had forgotten all about them in my interest 
in the tribe; certainly the best disposed and the 
most intelligent Indians I have seen in New 
France.” 

Dorval then explained the scene which he had 
witnessed on the previous night. 

‘‘ So those magic circles which were drawn 
around our camp and which, Monsieur Dorval, 


1 88 The Pipe of Peace 

nearly caused a rupture between us at the very 
beginning of the expedition, saved our lives,” 
added Joliet. 

And who drew the circles ? ” asked Dorval. 

‘‘ That is the question which we have been 
asking since the day we left the mission,” replied 
the leader. 

I have suspected Paul,” affirmed the former. 

“ And I, Pierre,” put in the latter. 

Pierre and Paul, the two apostles,” remarked 
the missionary with a smile, ‘‘ they have perhaps 
been our best friends and our protectors and we 
did not know it. Well Providence has protected 
us, and in that Providence we shall trust.” 

What precautions have we to take for the 
future?” asked Joliet. 

'' The two Hurons will certainly continue to 
follow us,” asserted Dorval ; ‘‘ but if I see them 
again they will get a bullet from my rifle. They 
have come to kill and do not deserve to live.” 

For three weeks the Frenchmen drifted down 


The Pipe of Peace 189 

the great river, keeping as much as possible in the 
middle of the stream and approaching the banks 
only when necessary and always with the great- 
est precaution. 

The vast prairies with their herds of buffalo 
gradually disappeared and in their place were 
cane-brakes and impervious forests of cotton- 
wood trees. The mid-day sun was oppressive, 
and at night swarms of mosquitoes filled the air. 
They passed the mouth of the Missouri and Ohio 
and found the river growing wider and the is- 
lands more numerous. Twice they met bands of 
Indians who received them in a friendly manner 
when they presented the calumet; but, as they 
could learn but little from these roaming tribes 
about the sea or ocean into which the river 
flowed, they did not tarry. 

Finally on the seventeenth of July, just one 
month after the discovery of the Mississippi, the 
voyagers beheld, on the east bank of the river 
and just opposite the Arkansas, a band of In- 


The Pipe of Peace 


190 

dians ready to embark in canoes and dispute their 
passage. In vain did the priest hold aloft his 
calumet, in vain did the others protest by signs 
that they were friends. As the large canoe of 
Indians drew near, clubs and stones were hurled 
at the strangers and arrows whizzed through 
the air; but luckily for the Frenchmen the sav- 
ages did not have firearms. Dorval all the while 
stood, rifle in hand, searching in the crowd for 
the Hurons, who, he thought, had gone ahead 
of them and instigated the Indians to attack 
the party. 

Suddenly every weapon was lowered and the 
attack ceased, for an old Indian had recognized 
the calumet and had ordered the braves to desist 
from fighting. 

Two of the chiefs threw their bows and quivers 
into the canoe of the missionary as a sign of 
friendship and the ceasing of hostilities. On 
reaching the shore the Frenchmen were con- 
ducted to the lodge of the great war-chief and 


The Pipe of Peace 19 1 

were seated on mats, with the sachems and braves 
and people around them. All but the missionary 
were armed and ready to repel any attack. Dor- 
val’s keen eye failed to discover the presence of 
the Hurons. Still his suspicions were aroused 
by the actions of a few young braves who were 
induced by some signs of a companion to 
leave the assembly. 

By means of a young Illinois, a prisoner in 
the tribe. Father Marquette spoke to the Indians 
of the mysteries of Christianity ; and so impressed 
were they with what he said that they asked him 
to remain and instruct them in the doctrine of 
his holy religion. He explained to them that he 
had come to visit the tribes along the great river 
and later he would bring other Black-robes to re- 
main and instruct them. 

On Joliet's inquiring how far it was to the sea, 
he was informed that it was but five days jour- 
ney. The difficulties and dangers were presented 
as almost insurmountable; for savages, armed 


192 The Pipe of Peace 

with rifles received from Spaniards, roamed the 
banks of the river and permitted no one to pass. 

Father,” began Joliet late that evening, when 
the two were seated in the cabin of reeds provided 
for the visitors, we have reached a stage in our 
expedition when prudence and foresight are re- 
quired to prevent our losing the fruits of our la- 
bors. I wish to consult with you what is best 
for us to do.” 

“Yes we must be prudent,” was the reply; 
“ Providence has protected us ; still we should not 
expose ourselves without reason.” 

“No, for if we perish, no one will be willing 
to undertake a similar expedition for years, and 
both religion and the advance of New France 
will be checked.” 

“ Very true, indeed.” 

“ Judging from our last measurements we are 
about thirty- three degrees from the equator, con- 
tinued the leader. “ The basin of the Gulf of 
Mexico extends thirty-one degrees north, so that 


The Pipe of Peace 


193 

we should be able to reach it in five days at 
least.” 

‘‘ Can we say with certainty that the great 
river flows into the Gulf of Mexico ? ” asked the 
priest. 

I see no reason to doubt it ; for one month 
we have been sailing in a southerly direction. 
Besides, the climate, the reports of the different 
tribes, and all the evidence we can gather, point 
to this fact.” 

Then there is one thing to be considered — 
namely, is it prudent and is it worth the risk 
to try to reach the gulf ? ” 

That is the one thing to be considered,” as- 
sented the leader. 

Then listen to a few words of advice,” con- 
tinued the Jesuit. The founder of our Order 
was a most prudent man and a wise counselor. 
He gave his children some directions to guide 
them when about to decide on important affairs. 
Let us follow his advice. On the right side of a 


194 The Pipe of Peace 

piece of paper put down all the reasons for con- 
tinuing our voyage to the gulf, and on the left 
side the reasons for the opposite opinion — con- 
sider the arguments and guide yourself accord- 
ingly. We have no paper and, not even a piece 
of birch-bark; but we can mark the number of 
reasons with a stick on the ground, and the facts 
are sufficiently fresh in our minds to be remem- 
bered. Let us see what conclusion each reaches, 
and then compare notes.’’ 

For fully half an hour the two sought to work 
out the problem. Dorval in the meanwhile was 
on duty. He noticed one of the chiefs leaving 
the village and going in the direction which the 
young braves had taken when they left during 
the council. 

“ We shall begin our return trip early in the 
morning,” said Joliet, walking from the cabin to 
the place where Dorval was standing. Father 
Marquette and myself think that it would be un- 
wise to continue the voyage any farther.” 


The Pipe of Peace 195 

“ If it were not so late I should prefer to start 
to-night/’ replied the sentry. “ I don’t like 
things ; I’ll not sleep a wink to-night, and I’ll not 
feel safe until we are twenty miles from the vil- 
lage.” 

“ They are going to attack us now,” were 
the warning words of the leader, as shouts came 
up from the wooded valley below and a dozen 
braves issued forth into the clearing. 

All seized their guns. 

‘‘ We are too few to withstand them,” pleaded 
the missionary. Let me see what I can do,” 
and grasping his calumet he went forth to meet 
the angry mob. 

The Indians came on ; the crowd grew larger 
and more excited. They were led by one of 
the sachems who had hitherto been most friendly. 
Had he turned a traitor? and was he urging the 
savages on to an attack? As he walked in front 
of the crowd he carried two scalps dangling in his 
hands. 


196 The Pipe of Peace 

The excited savages gathered around the 
Black-robe, brandishing their clubs and hatchets 
above his head. Still he stood unmoved. The 
sachem, holding aloft the two scalps dripping 
with blood, began to harangue the missionary, 
and as he spoke the young Illinois prisoner inter- 
preted his words: 

This morning. Black-robe, when you and the 
other pale-faces came to our village, we did not 
know you were friends and we went to kill you 
with our clubs. But you showed us the pipe of 
peace and we invited you to our village and we 
became friends. Two Indians came from a race 
which we have never seen. They came like 
snakes in the grass; they came to kill you and 
take your canoes and beads. They excited our 
foolish young warriors to kill you, and if the 
Great Spirit had not moved me to protect you, 
you would all have died this night. But now 
you are safe, for here are the scalps of your ene- 


The Pipe of Peace 197 

mies. Sleep in peace, and when the sun rises 
over the eastern hills we will be up to accom- 
pany you to the river and say farewell.’' 

The priest had no time to answer. Almost 
by magic the hatchets and clubs seemed to disap- 
pear, and the Indians ran away to the cabins, 
from which they soon issued carrying large 
earthen bowls full of provisions, and a great feast 
was given the strangers to celebrate their deliver- 
ance from death. The entire night would have 
been spent in feasting if the Frenchmen had not 
pleaded for a few hours’ rest previous to their de- 
parture. On the following morning, the seven- 
teenth of July, and just one month since the day 
of the discovery, the seven Frenchmen turned 
the prows of their canoes northward. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


THE FIGHT IN THE WILLOWS. 

N OW began the tedious and fatiguing work 
of rowing against the stream. The canoes 
were kept close to the shore to avoid as 
far as possible the strongest part of the cur- 
rent; but even with this precaution the labor 
was exhausting and progress slow. All were 
rejoiced when evening drew on and the party 
landed on an island to cook supper. Paul wan- 
dered off through the willows. He did not 
think the island was so large. He saw tracks 
of deer and wished that he had brought his rifle 
with him. There were other tracks, too, but 
the boy could not make out what animal had 
been there. There were beautiful shells along 
the shore. The boy wandered on and on with- 
198 


The Tight in the Willows 199 

out noticing that he was far away from the 
camp. 

Soon he reached the mainland and found that 
they were encamping on a peninsula. He would 
cross the narrow strip and follow the other shore 
back to the camp. 

But the willows were thicker than he had 
anticipated. Then he came to an open place; 
there were the deer tracks again. He thought 
he heard a noise in the brush. He waited. Just 
in front was a cotton tree. A dark object was 
crouched in a lower fork. 

The boy stood fixed to the ground — the ob- 
ject he saw was a wildcat. The animal was not 
facing him but was looking in the opposite direc- 
tion and was crouched upon its feet ready to 
spring. 

The willows moved again and a young deer 
walked out into the clearing. Paul could see its 
bright lustrous eyes. The wildcat trembled in 


200 The Fight in the Willows 

every limb. It leaped and in a moment its teeth 
were deep in the animal’s neck. 

Again the bushes parted. A large stag rushed 
at the wildcat and gored it with its antlers. For 
a moment the wildcat clung to its prey. Then 
it relaxed its hold. In another moment it was 
tossed ten feet in the air. 

With a mad growl it struck the ground, but 
before it could regain its feet it was again thrown 
aloft. This time it was quicker and before the 
stag could reach it the wildcat sprang at the foe 
and set its teeth in its neck. 

The stag gave a wild, piteous cry and tried to 
shake it off, but in vain. The wildcat dug its 
claws and teeth deeper into the flesh. The deer’s 
sides were sprinkled with blood and the sand red. 

Paul was in agony; for the moans of the stag 
were like the death cries of a human being. 
Near him he saw the limb of a tree, a dead branch 
protruding from the sand. He grasped it; but 
it would not yield. He placed his foot upon it 


The Fight in the Willows 201 

and with one mighty effort snapped it. Armed 
with this club, about two feet long and as thick 
as the wrist, he ran toward the animals forgetful 
of his own danger. 

The deer writhed and groaned. The wildcat 
growled. The boy watched his chances. Crash ! 
on the wildcat’s head. The club broke. The 
wildcat released its hold and with another growl 
bent to spring at the boy. 

Its efforts were feeble and it came to the 
ground with a thud at the boy’s feet. It was 
dead. Paul noticed that there was a long gash 
in its side made by the antlers of the deer. He 
glanced to right and left and saw that the young 
deer was dead and that the stag with its head 
thrown back was gasping its last. 

The boy sat down upon the sand and drew a 
long breath. 

The willows at his side parted and an Indian 
stood before him. 

‘‘Eh! bien!'' exclaimed the red visitor, who 


202 The Fight in the Willows 

saw only the boy and the dead wildcat at his feet. 

It did not occur to Paul that the Indian had 
greeted him in French. They were friendly 
words and words of praise. He was frightened 
for a moment; then he reached out his hand. 
The two sat down in the sand. 

It was growing dark and the members of the 
party were getting alarmed at Paul’s long ab- 
sence. When the boy appeared, he was carrying 
a young deer on his shoulders. His clothes were 
soiled and besprinkled with blood. All were cu- 
rious to know how he had captured his prize. 
He told them briefly of the incident; but he said 
not a word about the Indian. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


PAUL PRACTISES INDIAN INCANTATIONS. 

’way boy, don’t shake them devil things 

^ around me.” 

But I can cure you.” 

Go ’way.” 

'' I can cure you, I say.” 

Take them devil things away.” 

But I can cure you, monsieur.” 

I won’t be cured by the power of evil 
spirits.” 

There ! there they go ! and I’ll cure you with- 
out them.” 

Paul tossed a string of bear toes back toward 
the camp and seized Pierre by the arm : Come ! 

I can cure you.” 

It will be remembered that Paul had brought 


203 


204 Paul Practises Indian Incantations 

with him a bunch of bear claws, which Red Bear 
had concealed in the cluster of lilacs, and that 
some were of the opinion for a long time that he 
made the marks around the camp. Sieur Joliet 
had on several occasions hinted to the boy that 
it would be a favor to the crew if he would dis- 
card the useless gift. But the boy clung to the 
present in remembrance of his Indian friend. 
Lataupine was still convinced that Paul and his 
bear claws had brought disaster to the expedi- 
tion and had been the cause of Pierre’s insanity. 
For many days Paul had kept the treasure from 
the sight of all and had now suddenly produced 
them before Pierre as the two walked along the 
edge of a narrow island where the party had en- 
camped that night. 

‘‘ Come ! come with me ! ” pressed the lad. 

Go ’way.” 

“ Pierre, listen to me.” 

The man stared with a blank, unmeaning look 
into the eyes of the boy who held him by the arm. 


Paul Practises Indian Incantations 205 

‘‘ Pierre, did I not risk my life to save you 
last year ? ” 

Yes, boy.” 

Are we not friends ? ” 

Ma foi, yes.” 

Won’t you believe me? won’t you take my 
word ? ” 

The strange, unmeaning look was the only an- 
swer. 

‘' Come with me, come just a little way down 
the island, for I don’t want the others to see us.” 

“ You will turn me into a bear.” 

“ No, Pierre, we are friends.” The boy’s hand 
again grasped the cripple’s arm. 

Nom d’un chien/* growled the demented 
man. 

The boy shrank back. He saw now that he 
had made a big mistake in showing the bear claws 
to the cripple ; still he did not lose hope. 

“ I meant no harm, monsieur,” were his plead- 
ing words. 


2o6 Paul Practises Indian Incantations 

“ You’ve been associating with the friend of 
evil spirits; boy, I will not have you near me.” 

No, no, Pierre ! you will not listen to me ; 
if you did I could help you ! ” 

“ I am crazy now ; and if you work with your 
charms you will turn me into a crazy bear; and 
ril be crawling around the camp at night and 
drawing them devil circles.” 

‘‘ But, monsieur, did you not see me throw 
the claws toward the camp. I no longer have 
them with me.” 

‘‘ But you are possessed by the evil spirit. 
Don’t come too close to me, boy.” The cripple’s 
hand trembled as he motioned the lad away. 

“ I will not go ! Pierre, you must hear me.” 

Parhleu! away 1 ” 

But the boy clung to the man’s arm. “ Listen, 
monsieur, listen to me.” 

'‘Parhleu! I will not listen.” 

“ I can cure you.” 

Mille tonnerres! ’’cried the man and sent the 


Paul Practises Indian Incantations 207 

boy sprawling in the sand. "" Nom d'un chien. 
Norn d'un chien” he repeated raising his clenched 
fist over the prostrate form. 

The cripple turned to start for the camp, but 
in doing so he stumbled on a snag in the sand 
and fell prostrate. In a moment Paul was upon 
him as if to take revenge. But he only repeated 
the words : “ Listen to me, monsieur, listen to 

me, Pierre, I can cure you.” 

The man fought to shake him off, but the 
boy clung to him, muttering the while something 
into the cripple’s ear. Pierre seemed suddenly 
to become interested. 

‘‘ Don’t smother me,” he moaned, ‘‘ tell me the 
rest.” 

Pierre was still lying upon his back in the 
sand. Paul was bent over him rattling off some- 
thing as fast as his tongue could go. Only once 
or twice he paused to look in the direction of the 
camp. Then he went on with his narrative. 
Pierre raised himself to a sitting posture and 


2 o 8 Paul Practises Indian Incantations 

wiped the perspiration from his forehead. Paul 
still talked. 

'‘Stop! let me think.” Pierre held out his 
hand and the boy became silent. 

" Go on, go on now. I’m feeling better, 
much better.” 

Paul spoke but a few words more. 

" Wait wait, my mind is not clear yet; but Pm 
feeling better I — I — I understand I but it is so 
strange.” 

Then the boy went on with his narrative. 
After a short time the cripple rose to his feet. 

" Paul, you have kept your word and cured me. 
I do not understand now how I could have de- 
ceived myself. Parbleu! what a fool I’ve been.” 

" No, monsieur ; I am surprised that all of us 
did not go crazy.” 

“ What’ll we say to the messieurs at the 
camp?” asked the cripple. 

" Let me see,” mused the boy. 

" Eh, bien! ” exclaimed the man. “ I have it ; 


Paul Practises Indian Incantations 209 

here is a new kind of plant. I’ll just take a bit of 
it and tell them that it cured me.” 

‘‘ But that would not be true,” objected the 
youth. 

“ It’s only a white lie. I’ll tell them I ate the 
weed and was cured. I won’t say the weed did 
it.” 

Paul hesitated. He wanted some explanation 
for the sudden change in regard to Pierre; and 
still he had been taught that one could not tell a 
lie for any reason. There was a noise among 
the willows. Some one was coming from the 
camp. Pierre jerked the weed from the ground 
and bit a piece of the root. 

Any one who has had the misfortune to taste 
the root of the Indian turnip, or Jack-in-the-pulpit 
as it is commonly called, will be able to under- 
stand the sensation which the cripple experienced. 
He coughed, and spat and ran to the river for 
water. 

“What? what has happened?” demanded 


210 Paul Practises Indian Incantations 

Sieur Joliet, appearing from among the willows. 

Pierre — is, is, cured,” stammered the boy. 

“ Cured?” 

‘‘Yes, monsieur; if it don’t drive him crazy 
again.” 

“It? what?” 

“ A most wonderful weed — ah ! Pierre is en- 
tirely cured.” 

“ Nonsense ; he’s choking.” 

Both ran to the bank. 

“ Are you not cured, Pierre ? ” 

The man’s mouth was too full of muddy water 
to speak. 

“ He is cured,” repeated the boy — “ that’s a 
most wonderful weed.” 

The leader was puzzled. Pierre was almost 
choking, the big tears were streaming down his 
cheeks ; he had lost the power of speech, and still 
the boy was declaring that he had been cured. 

“ Where is the weed ? ” he demanded. 

Picking up the Indian turnip which Pierre had 


Paul Practises Indian Incantations 211 

dropped, Paul presented it smilingly to the leader. 

“ It is the root which — ’’ 

Which cures craziness/’ added Sieur Joliet. 
But burns the skin off one’s mouth while it 
works on the brain,” sighed Pierre, gulping down 
more muddy water. 

Joliet questioned the man. Every answer was 
rational and to the point. The leader was 
amazed; for the cripple had truly regained his 
senses. What a wonderful discovery. Since the 
bulb of the weed or flower resembled a turnip, 
and its leaves, a lily, Joliet called the newly dis- 
covered plant the lily-turnip. 


CHAPTER XXVL 


A MESSAGE FROM RED BEAR. 

^^1 KNOW that you are not well, to-day Father; 
■ but may I speak to you for a few minutes ? ” 
“ I am far from being well, Paul ; still it 
will not pain me to listen to you.'’ 

Please, please tell me when you wish to rest," 
faltered the boy, who was startled when gazing 
at the worn and pallid features of the mission- 
ary. He knew that Father Marquette's strength 
had been failing him for a month; but never be- 
fore had he seen the priest so wan and so com- 
pletely exhausted. 

That portage seems to have taken away the 
little strength I had; still we are near the end of 
our voyage and should be thankful to God for 
having so mercifully protected and supported us." 

Nearly two months had passed since the seven 


212 


213 


A Message from Red Bear 

Frenchmen had begun their homeward trip from 
the mouth of the Arkansas river. They had fol- 
lowed the Mississippi to the Illinois and, rowing 
up the latter stream, had reached Lake Michigan 
by means of a short portage and a river. Coast- 
ing along the lake to the peninsula which juts 
out south of Green Bay, they followed an Indian 
trail where can now be seen the town of Sturgeon 
Bay and the government ship canal. Marquette's 
failing health had been completely exhausted. 
The priest, who had been for days resting in 
his canoe, did not realize how weak he really was 
until he began to walk for some distance up the 
side of the steep ridge, leading from the lake 
shore. At first he insisted on carrying his part 
of the luggage, for all during the expedition he 
had shared the hardships of his companions. He 
was forced, however, to relinquish his load, and 
soon afterward was supported by Dorval. On 
reaching Green Bay the party rested to give the 
priest time to recuperate before starting for the 


214 ^ Message from Red Bear 

Mission of Saint Francis Xavier, at the head of 
the bay. One of the tents had been raised over 
the sufferer and here it was that Paul found 
Father Marquette taking his needed rest. 

“ I came to tell you about Red Bear,” said the 
lad as he bent over the missionary. 

Have you not forgotten him ? He has been 
gone so long.” 

No, Father, he did not go to Quebec.” 

Did you not see him leap into the water and 
join the flotilla?” 

“ Yes, Father, but he took a canoe and returned 
to the mission that evening.” 

Have you met any one from the mission 
lately ? ” 

‘‘No, Father.” 

“ Who brings such news ? ” 

“ I have been talking with Red Bear.” 

“ Impossible, my child.” 

“ No, Father, Red Bear has saved our lives ; 


A Message from Red Bear 215 

not one of us would be here to-day if he had not 
protected us.’’ 

“ I do not understand.” 

“ Red Bear was with us during the entire voy- 

>> 

age. 

The missionary looked into the boy’s face with 
a vacant stare. ‘‘ I must be dreaming,” said he. 
“ What did I understand you to say ? ” 

‘‘ Red Bear was with us during the whole voy- 
age ; the two pagan Hurons would have killed us 
if it had not been for Red Bear.” 

“ I understand what you say ; but how can it 
be possible ? ” 

** Perhaps it would be better for me to explain 
it some other day,” apologized the lad as he be- 
gan to withdraw from the tent. 

“ Come, come ; tell me all, my child.” 

Paul stood for a few moments with his hands 
clasped before him ; he regretted that he had dis- 
turbed the quiet of the Jesuit. Pll tell you in a 


21 6 A Message from Red Bear 

low voice if you think it will not disturb you, 
Father.’^ 

‘‘ I thought that I had misunderstood you ; 
but tell me, tell me all ; what was that you said of 
Red Bear?” 

‘‘ Father, you know that Red Bear has ever 
been my friend. When we started on the voy- 
age four months ago he thought that we were 
going to certain death. He wanted to help me 
if he could. He knew that he was not wanted in 
the party; and his pagan superstitions kept him 
at a distance from you. He therefore decided 
to follow us, but in such a way that no one would 
know of his presence. He joined the Indian 
flotilla to make us believe that he went to Quebec 
and at the same time to get a canoe. He came 
back to the mission that very night and was pres- 
ent at a secret council of Poison Arrow and heard 
the chief give his instructions to the two Hurons 
who were to follow us and murder us before we 
reached the Mississippi.” 


217 


A Message from Red Bear 

So he was sent to be our guardian angel,” 
interrupted the priest. 

“He is not an angel, Father; but I hope he 
will be some day, for I often pray for his conver- 
sion.” 

“ And I,” added the missionary ; “ but go on 
with your narrative.” 

“ Red Bear knew that the Hurons would not 
injure us if we were protected by a circle drawn 
with bear claws. This then explains the reason 
of the magic circles; Red Bear drew them. It 
was he who brought the string of fish and the 
deer to Pierre. And do you remember, Father, 
that Lataupine and myself found an Indian lying 
in the bushes with his hands and feet tied? We 
were looking for leatherwood that day; and the 
Indian we found was Red Bear. If he had not 
escaped and made the circles that night none of 
us would have seen the sun rise the next morning. 
It was his canoe which sailed behind us the day 
on which we discovered the Mississippi. He did 


2i8 a Message from Red Bear 

not wish to kill the two Hurons, as they belonged 
to his tribe; but still he protected me and all of 
you for my sake.’' 

It was God who protected us, my child. 
Providence makes use of strange means in the 
accomplishment of its ends. But why did you 
not tell me of this sooner ? ” 

“ It was the wish of Red Bear that I keep it 
secret from all until we reached the mission; but 
when I explained that the mystery had affected 
Pierre’s mind, he consented to my telling him. 
I have been fishing with the Bear this morning, 
and he gave me permission to reveal the secret 
to all the party. I’ll now go and tell Sieur 
Joliet.” 

Truly, God has watched over us,” muttered 
the priest when Paul had left him alone. ‘‘ Bless- 
ed be God’s name forever.” * 

*The main facts of this narrative are taken from the 
fifty-ninth volume Of the Jesuit Relations; but the super- 
stitious practices of Red Bear are, of course, fictitious. 


CHAPTER XXVIL 


THE GRAVE OF MARQUETTE. 


STRONG gale was blowing westward over 
Lake Michigan. Fitful gusts caught the 
tops of the naked hills and sent showers 
of white sand far out over the water, pelting 
like rain drops upon the surface and frighten- 
ing the wild ducks which had taken shelter un- 
der the lee of the elevated shore. White-capped 
waves tossed a small canoe which kept close 
enough to the land to avoid the wind and yet 
at a sufficient distance to escape the broken 
swells which receded from the beach. In the 
canoe were three voyagers. One was lying up- 
on a mat in the bottom of the craft with his 
hands folded upon his breast; the two others 
were plying their oars, pausing at times to ask 
219 


220 The Grave of Marquette 

their companion whether he was in need of any- 
thing. One of the oarsmen was suffering from 
rheumatism in his legs, which he kept covered 
with a buffalo robe. 

:|e jjc :j£ Jjc :je 

More than a year had passed since the discov- 
ery of the Mississippi River. Joliet and Dorval 
had conveyed the joyful tidings of the discovery 
to Quebec, and special dispatches had brought 
the news to France. Dorval on account of his 
services had been pardoned by Frontenac. La- 
taupine and Moussart had joined a party of trap- 
pers. Marquette with Pierre and Paul had re- 
mained at the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier at 
the head of Green Bay. After a year’s work 
among the Indians the Jesuit missionary resolved 
to keep his promise and return to the Illinois 
whom he had met on the banks of the river of 
that name. In November of 1674 he started 
upon this, his last mission to the Indians, hoping 
to reach them before the cold weather had frozen 


The Grave of Marquette 221 

the rivers. But he was detained during the win- 
ter near the present city of Chicago, and on the 
following spring, resuming his voyage, arrived 
at the Indian village during the season of Lent. 
For three weeks he instructed the Illinois, but 
his strength was gradually failing him, and he 
felt that he would have to abandon his flock, and 
seek health and strength with his fellow laborers 
at the mission of Saint Ignatius, at the Strait of 
Mackinac. 

He had with him two companions, Paul Gui- 
beau and the faithful Pierre. The latter had 
suffered almost as much as the priest, so that 
Paul had been the servant of both. But Paul 
was not alone. 

Unbidden the Huron, Red Bear, had followed 
the missionary and his companions. During the 
severe winter, when Paul was daily at the side 
of Father Marquette and when Pierre's rheuma- 
tism prevented him from leaving the rude lodg- 
ing, the Huron brought to the camp game and 


222 The Grave of Marquette 

fish and corn. The latter was procured miles 
away at an Indian village, the journey being made 
on snowshoes. It was remarkable how the In- 
dian boy could obtain provisions for himself and 
the three Frenchmen, and at the same time shelter 
himself from the coldu He came to the cabin 
when he was least expected, night or day, placed 
his provisions near the door and disappeared. 
Even Paul saw him but seldom, and all his solici- 
tations could not induce Red Bear to join the 
party. 

On returning from the Illinois mission to the 
Strait of Mackinac, the party resolved to follow 
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, as this was 
the shortest way. Red Bear, who had been with 
them at the mission, again followed them; at 
times his light canoe could be seen dancing over 
the water at a short distance from the French- 
men. 

The missionary’s sufferings were acute and the 
unceasing rocking of the canoe aggravated his 


The Grave of Marquette 223 

woes. One afternoon the voyagers reached a 
small stream near the present city of Ludington. 
Here the priest asked to rest. The canoe was 
pulled ashore and a rude cabin of bark was con- 
structed to protect the sufferer from the chill 
wind. 

‘‘ I am afraid that I shall never reach the 
mission,” said the priest to Paul, who stooped 
to arrange a buffalo robe over the form of the 
sufferer. 

'' Do not say that. Father. I took care of you 
during five months of last winter, and now that 
the warm weather is coming I hope to see you 
well.” 

'' If I reach the mission alive,” grunted Pierre, 
rubbing his rheumatic legs, “ Pll stay at home, 
for these long voyages are too much for one who 
hasn't the use of his legs.” 

“ Perhaps I made a mistake in permitting you 
to come with me,” replied the priest. 

Parhleu, not at all! I couldn't see you go 


224 Grave of Marquette 

alone to the Illinois country! No, no, not even 
if I lost my life ! ’’ 

Both you and Paul have been so kind to me, 
that I shall never be able to repay you/’ 

‘‘ It has been a pleasure trip for me,” confessed 
Paul. ‘M haven’t been sick an hour, and can 
never forget the experiences of last winter.” 

“ I’d hoped to wait on Father Marquette,” in- 
terposed Pierre, ‘‘ but I was only in the way, and 
you had the double task of serving both of us.” 

“ It was not a task. I could scarcely call it 
work.” 

But your work is not yet over, my lad,” said 
the priest. “ I do not know how long I am to 
linger here ; but I am afraid that you will dig my 
grave on this hill.” 

Paul did not reply. As Pierre was too crip- 
pled to move about, the boy erected poles over the 
place where the missionary was lying, and cov- 
ered them with skins and bark. Within the little 
cabin he built a fire and then began to prepare 


The Grave of Marquette 225 

a meal. He had only a little corn and tea left, 
but he knew that he could rely on Red Bear for 
fish or game. In less than half an hour the In- 
dian approached the cabin carrying half a dozen 
wild ducks which he had caught in a net. He 
handed them to Paul and departed without utter- 
ing a word. 

The priest would not eat the supper which 
the boy had prepared. “ Paul,” said he, reaching 
forth and taking the boy’s hand, God bless you, 
my lad, for all that you have done for me. I 
feel that the end is not far away. Remember 
what I have told you about my last moments. 
You have the bottle of holy water which I blessed. 
Bring the little bell and the crucifix from the 
canoe, for I may need them to-night. Remem- 
ber what you are to do. When you think that I 
am dying, hold the crucifix before my eyes and 
pronounce aloud the holy name of Jesus.” 

Tears filled the boy’s eyes. Pierre sat near 
with his head buried in his hands. 


226 The Grave of Marquette 

Darkness came on. Paul knelt at the side of 
the priest and prayed. Unobserved, Red Bear 
crept near the cabin and drew around it the 
magic circle with bear claws. Death, thought 
he, could never enter the place thus protected by 
the Great Spirit. 

“ You are tired and need sleep,’’ whispered the 
priest ; ‘‘ lie here by my side, and when I want 
you I shall awaken you.” 

Hours passed and midnight was approaching. 
Paul was aroused by a gasping noise. He stirred 
the smoldering fire and saw by the dim light that 
the priest was dying. He raised the crucifix 
above the head of the sufferer and pronounced 
the sacred name aloud several times. Father 
Marquette repeated the name and kissed the cru- 
cifix which the boy presented to him. After a 
brief agony the great missionary expired. 

Three weeks after the death of the missionary, 
a single canoe reached the mission of St. Ignace 


The Grave of Marquette 227 

on the northern shore of the Strait of Mackinac. 
In it were Pierre, Paul, and Red Bear. Who 
should meet them but Lataupine ! 

“ And the rheumatism has left you,” said he 
to Pierre, whO' stepped from the canoe and with- 
out limping walked toward the priest’s cabin. 

‘‘ Fve been cured by a miracle ; by a great saint ; 
but come to the mission-house and let the boy 
tell Father Dablon about it.” 

Lataupine understood from the tone of the 
speaker that something strange had happened. 
The party walked in silence to the cabin of 
Father Dablon who met them at the door. “ Are 
you from the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier? ” 
he asked. 

‘‘ No, Father,” replied the boy, “ from the Illi- 
nois.” 

‘‘What has happened? You seem dejected.” 
“ In the first place, Father Marquette is dead.” 
There was a silence and then the boy continued. 
“ Pierre was cured by a miracle. He could give 


228 The Grave of Marquette 

me but little help in burying the priest, but as 
we were about to leave the grave, Pierre knelt to 
pray. Then he picked up a handful of earth 
from the grave and applied it to his legs. Imme- 
diately the swelling and the suffering left, and he 
walked to the canoe without limping. Pierre 
was so overcome that he could not speak. After 
a brief pause the boy continued. “ I have other 
good news. I have brought Red Bear to you 
for Baptism. When his magic circles were un- 
able to keep death away from the priest I talked 
to him about the Great Spirit. He has thrown 
away his claws and is ready to receive Baptism, 
for I have instructed him every day. He joined 
Pierre and myself after the death of Father Mar- 
quette.^^ 

jft Jjc sK sK 

Two years later the body of Father Marquette 
was brought to the mission and interred beneath 
the altar. Paul in the meantime had returned to 
Quebec. But Pierre remained at Mackinac to 


The Grave of Marquette 229 

act as servant of the missionary. Every even- 
ing when his work was finished he would slip 
away to the little chapel and there pray before 
the altar. But no evening did he forget to thank 
God for the favor of his cure, and for the con- 
version of Red Bear. 


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AN EVERY DAY GIRL. By Mary T. Crowley. “One of the few tales that 
will appeal to the heart of every girl.” 

AS TRUE AS GOLD. By Mary E. Mannix. “This book will make a name 
for itself.” 

AN HEIR OF DREAMS. By S. M. O’Malley. “The book is destined to 
become a true friend of our boys.” 

THE MYSTERY OF HORNBY HALL. By Anna T. Sadlier. Sure to stir 
the blood of every real boy and to delight with its finer touches the heart 
of every true girl.” 

TWO LITTLE GIRLS. By Lillian Mack. “A real tale of real children.” 

RIDINGDALE FLOWER SHOW. By Rev. David Bearne, S.J. “His sym- 
pathy with boyhood is so evident and his understanding so perfect.” 


2 


2 0 Copyrighted Stories for the Young 

By the Best Catholic Writers 

F*rice, $10.00 
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on preceding pages 

Juvenile Library B 

HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE. By Rev. F. J. Finn, S.J. Pro- 
fusely illustrated. “A delightful story by Father Finn, which will be 
popular with the girls as well as with the boys.” 

THE SHERIFF OF THE BEECH FORK. By Rev. H. S. Spalding, S.J. 
“From the outset the reader’s attention is captivated and never lags.” 

SAINT CUTHBERT’S. By Rev. J. E. Copus, S.J. “A truly inspiring tale, 
full of excitement.” 

THE TAMING OF POLLY. By Ella Loraine Dorsey. “Polly with her 
cool head, her pure heart and stern Western sense of justice.” 

STRONG-ARM OF AVALON. By Mary T. Waggaman. “Takes hold of the 
interest and of the heart and never lets go.” 

JACK HILDRETH ON THE NILE. By C. May. “Courage, truth, honest 
dealing with friend and foe.” 

A KLONDIKE PICNIC. By Eleanor C. Donnelly. “Alive with the charm 
that belongs to childhood.” 

A COLLEGE BOY. By Anthony Yorke. “Healthy, full of life, full of 
incident.” 

THE GREAT CAPTAIN. By Katharine T. Hinkson. “Makes the most 
interesting and delightful reading.” 

THE YOUNG COLOR GUARD. By Mary G. Bonesteel. “The attractive- 
ness of the tale is enhanced by the realness that pervades it.” 

THE HALDEMAN CHILDREN. By Mary E. Mannix. “Full of people 
entertaining, refined, and witty.” 

PAULINE ARCHER. By Anna T. Sadlier. “Sure to captivate the hearts 
of all juvenile readers.” 

THE ARMORER OF SOLINGEN. By W. Herchenbach. “Cannot fail to 
inspire honest ambition.” 

THE INUNDATION. By Canon Schmid. “Sure to please the young 
readers for whom it is intended.” 

THE BLISSYLVANIA POST-OFFICE. By Marion A. Taggart. “Pleasing 
and captivating to young people.” 

DIMPLING’S SUCCESS. By Clara Mulholland. “Vivacious and natural 
and cannot fail to be a favorite.” 

BISTOURI. By A. Melandri. “How Bistouri traces out the plotters and 
foils them makes interesting reading.” 

FRED’S LITTLE DAUGHTER. By Sara T. Smith. “The heroine wins her 
way into the heart of every one.” 

THE SEA-GULL’S ROCK. By J. Sandeau. “The intrepidity of the little 
hero will appeal to every boy.” 

JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. First Series. A collection of twenty stories 
by the foremost writers, with many full-page illustrations. 


3 


2 0 Copyrighted Stories for the Young 

By the Best Catholic Writers 
Sf>kciai> Net Price, $10.00 
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on preceding pages 


Juvenile Library C 

PERCY WYNN; OR, MAKING A BOY OF HIM. By Rev. F. J. Finn, S.J. 
“The most successful Catholic juvenile published.” 

THE RACE FOR COPPER ISLAND. By Rev. H. S. Spalding, S.J. 
“Father Spalding’s descriptions equal those of Cooper.” 

SHADOWS LIFTED. By Rev. J. E. Copus, S.J. “We know of no books 
more delightful and interesting.” 

HOW THEY WORKED THEIR WAY, AND OTHER STORIES. By 
Maurice F. Egan. “A choice collection of stories by one of the most 
popular writers.” 

WINNETOU, THE APACHE KNIGHT. By C. May. “Chapters of breath- 
less interest.” 

MILLY AVELING. By Sara Trainer Smith. “The best story Sara Trainer 
Smith has ever written.” 

THE TRANSPLANTING OF TESSIE. By Mary T. Waggaman. “An ex- 
cellent girl’s story.” 

THE PLAYWATER PLOT. By Mary T. Waggaman. “How the plotters 
are captured and the boy rescued makes a very interesting story.” 

AN ADVENTURE WITH THE APACHES. By Gabriel Ferry. 

PANCHO AND PANCHITA. By Mary E. Mannix. “Full of color and 
warmth of life in old Mexico.” 

RECRUIT TOMMY COLLINS. By Mary G. Bonesteel. “Many a boyish 
heart will beat in envious admiration of little Tommy.” 

BY BRANSCOME RIVER. By Marion A. Taggart. “A creditable book in 
every way.” 

THE QUEEN’S PAGE. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson. “Will arouse the 
young to interest in historical matters and is a good story well told.” 

MARY TRACY’S FORTUNE. By Anna T. Sadlier. “Sprightly, interesting 
and well written.” 

BOB-O’LINK. By Mary T. Waggaman. “Every boy and girl will be de- 
lighted with Bob-o’Link.” 

THREE GIRLS AND ESPECIALLY ONE. By Marion A. Taggart. “There 
is an exquisite charm in the telling.” 

WRONGFULLY ACCUSED. By W. Herchenbach. “A simple tale, enter- 
tainingly told.” 

THE CANARY BIRD. By Canon Schmid. “The story is a fine one and 
will be enjoyed by boys and girls.” 

FIVE O’CLOCK STORIES. By S. H. C. J. “The children who are blessed 
with such stories have much to be thankful for.” 

JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. Second Series. A collection of twenty stories 
by the foremost writers, with many full-page illustratibns. 


4 


2 0 Copyrighted Stories for the Young 

By the Best Catholic Writers 

ISTb^tt Frick, ^10.00 

$1.00 down, $1.00 a month 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on preceding pages 


Juvenile Library D 

THE WITCH OF RIDINGDALE. By Rev. David Bearne, S.J. “Here is a 
story for boys that bids fair to equal any of Father Finn’s successes.” 

THE MYSTERY OF CLEVERLY. By George Barton. There is a peculiar 
charm about this novel that the discriminating reader will ascribe to the 
author’s own personality. 

HARMONY FLATS. By C. S. Whitmore. The characters in this story are 
all drawn true to life, and the incidents are exciting. 

WAYWARD WINIFRED. By Anna T. Sadlier. A story for girls. Its 
youthful readers will enjoy the vivid description, lively conversations, and 
plenty of striding incidents, all winding up happily. 

TOM LOSELY : BOY. By Rev. J. E. Copus, S.J. Illustrated. The writer 
knows boys and boy nature, and small-boy nature too. 

MORE FIVE O’CLOCK STORIES. By S. H. C. J. “The children who are 
blessed with such stories have much to be thankful for.” 

JACK O’LANTERN. By Mary T. Waggaman. This book is alive with in- 
terest. It is full of life and incident. 

THE BERKLEYS. By Emma Howard Wight. A truly inspiring tale, full 
of excitement. There is not a dull page. 

LITTLE MISSY. By Mary T. Waggaman. A charming story for children 
which will be enjoyed by older folk as well. 

TOM’S LUCK-POT. By Mary T. Waggaman. Full of fun and charming 
incidents — a book that every boy should read. 

CHILDREN OF CUPA. By Mary E. Mannix. One of the most thoroughly 
unique and charming books that has found its way to the reviewing desk 
in many a day. 

FOR THE WHITE ROSE. By Katharine T. Hinkson. This book is some- 
thing more than a story; but, as a mere story, it is admirably well written. 

THE DOLLAR HUNT. From the French by E. G. Martin. Those who wish 
to get a fascinating tale should read this story. 

THE VIOLIN MAKER. From the original of Otto v. Schaching, by Sara 
Trainer Smith. There is much truth in this simple little story. 

“JACK.” By S. H. C. T. As loving and lovable a little fellow as there is in 
the world is “Jack,’’^ the “pickle,” the “ragamuffin,” the defender of per- 
secuted kittens and personal principles. 

A SUMMER AT WOODVILLE. By Anna T. Sadlier. This is a beautiful 
"book, in full sympathy with and delicately expressive of the author’s 
creations. 

DADDY DAN. By Mary T. Waggaman. This is a rattling good story for 
boys. 

THE BELL FOUNDRY. By Otto v. Schaching. So interesting that the 
reader will find difficulty in tearing himself away. 

TOORALLADDY. By Julia C. Walsh. An exciting story of the varied 
fortunes of an orphan boy from abject poverty in a dismal cellar to success. 

JUVENILE ROUND TABLE. Third Series. A collection of twenty stories 
by the foremost writers. 


6 


Catholic Circulating Library ie^Mont 


NOVELS 

12 Oopyrlglnteci Novels by tbe Best A^utbors 

SBBClAb Pricb, $12.00 

You get the books at once, and have the use of them while making easy 

payments 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page 


Library of Novels No. I 

THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM. By Grace Keon. “Will charm any 
reader.” 

KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS. By J. Harrison. “A real, true life 
history, the kind one could live through and never read it '' r romance.” 

IN THE DAYS OF KING HAL. By Marion A, Taggart. Illustrated. “A 
tale of the time of Henry V. of England, full of adventure and excite- 
ment.” 

HEARTS OF GOLD. By I. Edhor. “It is a tale that will leave its reader 
the better for knowing its heroine, her tenderness and her heart of gold.” 

THE HEIRESS OF CRONENSTEIN. By Countess Hahn-Hahn. “An ex- 
quisite story of life and love, told in touchingly simple words.” 

THE PILKINGTON HEIR, By Anna T. Sadlier. “Skill and strength are 
shown in this story. The plot is well constructed and the characters 
vividly differentiated.” 

THE OTHER MISS LISLE. A Catholic novel of South African life. By 
M. C. Martin. A powerful story by a writer of distinct ability. 

IDOLS; OR, THE SECRET OF THE RUE CHAUSSEE D’ANTIN. By 
Raoul de Navery. “The story is a remarkably clever one; it is well con- 
structed and evinces a master hand.” 

THE SOGGARTH AROON. By Rev. Joseph Guinan, C.C. A capital Irish 
story. 

THE VOCATION OF EDWARD CONWAY. By Maurice F. Egan. “This 
is a novel of modern American life. The scene is laid in a pleasant colony 
of cultivated people on the banks of the Hudson, not far from West Point.” 

A WOMAN OF FORTUNE. By Christian Reid. “That great American 
Catholic novel , for which so much inquiry is made, a story true in its 
picture of Americans at home and abroad.” 0 

PASSING SHADOWS. By Anthony Yorke. “A thoroughly charming 
story. It sparkles from first to last with interesting situations and 

dialogues that are full of sentiment. There is not a slow page.” 


6 


12 Copyrighted Novels by the Best Authors 

NsTr F^rice), S12.00 
$1.00 down, $1.00 a month 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first psge. 


Library of Novels No. II 

THE SENIOR LIEUTENANT’S WAGER, and Other Stories. 30 stories by 
30 of the foremost Catholic writers. 

A DAUGHTER OF KINGS. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson. “The book is 
most enjoyable.” 

THE WAY THAT LED BEYOND. By J. Harrison. “The story does not 
drag, the plot is well worked out, and the interest endures to the very 
last page.” 

CORINNE’S VOW. By Mary T. Waggaman. With 16 full-page illustrations. 
“There is genuine artistic merit in its plot and life-story. It is full of 
vitality and action.” 

THE FATAL BEACON. By F. v. Brackel. “The story is told well and 
clearly, and has a certain charm that will be found interesting. The prin- 
cipal characters are simple, good-hearted people, and the heroine’s high 
sense of courage impresses itself upon the reader as the tale proceeds.” 

THE MONK’S PARDON : An Historical Romance of the Time of Philip IV. 
of Spain. By Raoul de Navery. “A story full of stirring incidents and 
written in a lively, attractive style.” 

PERE MONNIER’S WARD. By Walter Lecky. “The characters are life- 
like and there is a pathos in the checkered life of the heroine. Pere 
Monnier is a memory that will linger.” 

TRUE STORY OF MASTER GERARD. By Anna T. Sadlier. “One of the 
most thoroughly original and delightful romances ever evolved from the 
pen of a Catholic writer.” 

THE UNRAVELING OF A TANGLE. By Marion A. Taggart. With four 
full-page illustrations. “This story tells of the adventures of a young 
American girl, who, in order to get possession of a fortune left her by an 
uncle, whom she had never seen, goes to France.” 

THAT MAN’S DAUGHTER. By Henry M. Ross. “A well-told story of 
American life, the scene laid in Boston, New York and California. It is 
very interesting.” 

FABIOLA’S SISTER. (A companion volume to Cardinal Wiseman’s “Fa- 
biola.”) Adapted by A. C. Clarke. “A book to read — a worthy sequel 
to that masterpiece, ‘Fabiola.’ ” 

THE OUTLAW OF CAMARGUE: A Novel. By A. de Lamothe. “A capital 
novel with plenty of go In it.” 


7 


12 


Copyrighted Novels by the Best Authors 

SF>aoi-A.i> Nej'T F^rich;, ^13.00 

$1.00 down, $1.00 a month 

Read explanation of our Circulating Library plan on first page. 


Library of Novels No. Ill 

“NOT A JUDGMENT.” By Grace Keon. “Beyond doubt the best Catholic 
novel of the year.” 

THE RED INN OF ST. LYPHAR. By Anna T. Sadlier. “A story of 
stirring times in France, when the sturdy Vendeans rose in defence of 
country and religion.” 

HER FATHER’S DAUGHTER. By Katharine Tynan Hinkson. “So 
dramatic and so intensely interesting that the reader will find it difficult 
to tear himself away from the story.” 

OUT OF BONDAGE. By M. Holt. “Once his book becomes known it will 
be read by a great many.” 

MARCELLA GRACE. By Rosa Mulholland. Mr. Gladstone called this 
novel a masterpiece. 

THE CIRCUS-RIDER’S DAUGHTER. By F. v. Brackel. This work has 
achieved a remarkable success for a Catholic novel, for in less than a year 
three editions were printed. 

CARROLL DARE. By Mary T. Waggaman. Illustrated. “A thrilling story, 
with the dash of horses and the clash of swords on every side.” 

DION AND THE SIBYLS. By Miles Keon. “Dion is as brilliantly, as 
accurately and as elegantly classical, as scholarly in style and diction, as 
fascinating in plot and as vivid in action as Ben Hur.” 

HER BLIND FOLLY. By H. M. Ross. A clever story with an interesting 
and well-managed plot and many striking situations, 

MISS ERIN. By M. E. Francis. “A captivating tale of Irish life, redolent 
of genuine Celtic wit, love and pathos.” 

MR. BILLY BUTTONS. By Walter Lecky. “The figures who move in 
rugged grandeur through these pages are as fresh and unspoiled in their 
way as the good folk of Drumtochty.” 

CONNOR D’ARCY’S STRUGGLES. By Mrs. W. M. Bertholds. “A story 
of which the spirit is so fine and the Catholic characters so nobly con- 
ceived.” 


8 


Continnatioii Library 


YOU SUBSCRIBE FOR FOUR NEW 
NOVELS A YEAR, TO BE MAILED TO 
YOU AS PUBLISHED, AND RECEIVE 
BENZIGER’S MAGAZINE FREE. 


Each year we publish four new novels by the best Cath- 
olic authors. These novels are interesting beyond the 
ordinary — not religious, but Catholic in tone and feeling. 
They are issued in the best modern style. 

We ask you to give us a standing order for these novels. 
The price is $1.25, which will be charged as each volume is 
issued, and the volume sent postage paid. 

As a special inducement for giving us a standing order 
for the novels, we shall include free a subscription to 
Benziger’s Magazine. Benziger's Magazine is recognized 
as the best and handsomest Catholic periodical published, 
and we are sure will be welcomed in every library. The 
regular price of the Magazine is $2.00 a year. 

Thus for $5.00 a year— paid $1.25 at a time — you will get 
four good books and receive in addition a year’s subscription 
to Benzige/s Magazine. The Magazine will be continued 
from year to year, as long as the standing order for the 
novels is in force, which will be till countermanded. 


9 


THE) EAMOXJS 


ROUND TABLE SERIES 


4 VOIvUNIKS, S6.00 


60 ORNXS DOWN; 60 CKNXS A. MONTH 

On payment of 50 cents you get the books and a free subscription to 
• v Benziger’s Magazine 

The Greatest Stories by the foremost Catholic Writers in the World 

With Portraits of the Authors, Sketches of their Lives, and a List of 
their Works, Four exquisite volumes, containing the masterpieces of 36 of the 
foremost writers of America, England, Ireland, Germany, and France. Each 
story complete. Open any volume at random and you will find a great story 
to entertain you. 


SPECIAL OEF'ER 


In order to place this fine collection of stories in every home, we make 
the following special offer: Send us 50 cents and the four fine volumes will be 
sent to you immediately. Then you pay 50 cents each month until $6.00 has 
been paid. 


LIBRARY OE 


SHORT STORIES 


BY A BRILLIANT ARRAY OF CATHOLIC AUTHORS 

Original Stories by 33 writers 

Four Handsome Volumes and Benziger’s Magazine for a Year at the 

Special Price of $5.00 

' 50 CENTS DOWN; 50 CENTS A MONTH 


You get the books at once, and have the use of them while making easy 
payments. Send us only^ 50 cents, and we will forward the books at once; 
50 cents entitles you to immediate possession. No further payment need be 
made for a month; afterwards you pay 50 cents a month. 


STORIKS BY 


Anna T. Sadlier 
Mary E. Mannix 
Mary T, Waggaman 
Jerome Harte 
Mary G. Bonesteel 
Magdalen Rock 
Eugenie Uhlrich 
Alice Richardson 
Katharine Jenkins 
Mary Boyle O’Reilly 
Clara Mulholland 


Teresa Stanton 
H. J. Carroll 


Leigh Gordon Giltner 
Eleanor C. Donnelly 


Julia C. Walsh 
Madge Mannix 


Theo. Gift 
Margaret E. Jordan 
Agnes M. Rowe 


Grace Keon 
Louisa Emily Dobree 


Mary Catherine Crowley 
Katherine Tynan-Hinkson 
Sallie Margaret O’Malley 
Emma Howard Wight 


Marion Ames Taggart 
Maurice Francis Egan 
Mary F. Nixon-Roulet 
Mrs. Francis Chadwick 
Catherine L. Meagher 
Anna Blanche McGill 


Rev. T, J. Livingstone, S.J, 


15 6 


10 


goo PAGES 


500 ILLUSTRATIONS 


A GREAT OPFBR 

THE LIFE OF OUR LORD 

AND ■ 

SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST 

AND OF HIS VIRGIN MOTHER MARY 

FROM THE ORIGINAL OF 

Iv. C. BXJSIKOKR, 

BY 

Rev. RICHARD BRENNAN, LL.D. 


Quarto, half morocco, full gilt side, gilt edges, 900 pages, 
500 illustrations in the text and 32 full-page 
illustrations by 
M. KKUKRSTTEIN 


PRICE, NET $10.00 

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immediately. Then you pay $1.00 a month 
till $10.00 is paid. 

This is not only a Life of Christ and of His Blessed 
Mother, but also a carefully condensed history of God’s 
Church from Adam to the end of the world in type, prophecy 
and fulfilment, it contains a popular dogmatic theology and 
a real catechism of perseverance, filled with spiritual food 
for the soul. 


11 


The Best Stories and Articles Over looo Illustrations a Year 

BENZIGER’S MAGAZINE 

The Popular Catholic Family Monthly 

Recommended by yo Archbishops and Bishops of the United States 
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 A YEAR 

What Benziger’s Magazine gives its Readers : 

Fifty complete stories by the best writers — equal to a book of 300 
pages selling at $1.25. 

Three complete novels of absorbing interest — equal to three books 
selling at $1.25 each. 

Over 1000 beautiful illustrations. 

Twenty-five large reproductions of celebrated paintings. 

Twenty articles — equal to a book of 150 pages — on travel and ad- 
venture ; on the manners, customs and home-life of peoples ; 
on the haunts and habits of animal life, etc. 

Twenty articles-;-equal to a book of 150 pages — on our country: 
historic events, times, places, important industries. 

Twenty articles — equal to a book of 150 pages — on the fine arts: 
celebrated artists and their paintings, sculpture, music, etc., and 
nature studies. 

Twelve pages of games and amusements for in and out of doors. 

Fifty pages of fashions, fads and fancies, gathered at home and 
abroad, helpful hints for home workers, household column, 
cooking receipts, etc. 

^‘Current Events,” the important happenings over the whole world, 
described with pen and pictures. 

Prize competitions, in which valuable prizes are offered. 

This is what is given in a Single Year of Benziger’s Magazine 

Send $2.00 now and become a subscriber to the best and handsomest 
Catholic Magazine published. 

BENZIGER BROTHERS 

New York: Cincinnati: Chicago: 

36-38 Barclay Street. 343 Main Street. 211-213 Madison Street. 


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